TENOTOMY. 1021 



the tire on the fore wheel, in striking one of the horse's hind leos, 

 entirely severed the tendons about three and a half to four inches 

 above the point of the fetlock, allowing the foot to turn up, and 

 the ankle to rest upon the ground. I supposed, of course, the 

 horse was ruined, and beyond help. At that time I knew noth- 

 ing at all about the treatment of sickness or lameness, and there 

 being no veterinary surgeon in all that region of country, was 

 consequently thrown upon my own resources. The horse being a 

 valuable one, and the injury to him breaking up a fine team, I 

 was bound to save him if I could, and succeeded in doing so as 

 follows : — • 



I had the horse put in slings; next had the shoe taken off the 

 foot, to which I had a piece of strong iron 

 welded on at the toe. I then took a piece of 

 leather, di-ew it around the fetlock, and fast- 

 ened through a loop in the iron, as shown in 

 Fig. 879. The part was simply dressed as an 

 ordinary wound. Excessive inflammation was 

 kept down by showering with cold water. In 

 about five weeks the parts seemed to be entirely 

 healed, leaving considerable enlargement; but Fig. S79.— Thefootas 

 fearing that by giving him entire freedom, the ^*' ^^^ supported, 

 tendons might be torn apart, I kept him in slings a little over 

 seven weeks. ♦ 



I kept a man with this horse night and day, with instructions 

 to let him stand upon his feet easily an hour oi- so at a time, then 

 alternating by shortening the slings, so as to rest his weight prin- 

 cipally upon them. It was also so arranged, by an ftctra strap 

 behind, as to pull forward and upward like a breeching. Every 

 precaution was taken to nur.se, by giving nourishing and easily 

 digested food. Indeed, without this precaution, I think he could 

 not have been saved, as the weather was very warm, and very 

 trying for a horse to stand so long in a warm stable. As it was, 

 he Avas very much emaciated when taken out of tlie slings, tliough 

 he soon regained his strength and flesh, and seemed to be as well as 

 ever. The enlargement gradually subsided, so that at the end of 

 a year it was scarcely noticeable. There was at first a little want 

 of mobility in the limb, but it soon disappeared. 



I would here add that it would have facilitated the absorption 



