S46 TAPPING THE CHEST. 



TENOTOMY. 



This operation is practised for the purpose of strengthening 

 crooked legs or sprung knees. It consists in dividing the flexor 

 tendons, in order to bring the limb straight. There are but few 

 cases, however, in which the operation would be of much service, 

 and therefore care must be exercised in selecting such cases as 

 are proper. It would hardly be proper in a young horse, as 

 other means less objectionable often succeed. In old horses it 

 would not be prudent, as their limbs are generally stiflT and 

 permanently set ; nor would it be successful in cases where an- 

 chylosis or stiff joint existed, as is often found in connection 

 with crooked legs and sprung knees. 



COUCHING. 



This is an operation upon the eye for the purpose of remov- 

 ing a cataract from the axis of vision. A couching needle is 

 passed through the sclerotic coat of the eye a little behind the 

 cornea, passing it upward behind the iris to where the cataract 

 is located, pressing it downward into the vitreous humor behind 

 the iris, where it remains. This operation has not been very 

 successful in the horse, by reason of the imperfect restoration 

 of the sight thereby afforded, which causes them in almost every 

 instance to shy at every object which they encounter, thus ren- 

 dering them dangerous upon the road. 



TAPPING THE CHEST. 



This operation consists in passing a round, pointed instru- 

 ment, sheathed with a cauula, into the chest, in order to dr^v7. 



