CUNEAN TENOTOMY. 



159 



fascia through to the skin. In accomplishing the section 

 of the tendon the knife is to be used as a lever of the first 

 class with the anterior border of the metatarsus acting as a 

 fulcrum. If the tendon has been completely severed its 

 retracted ends may be felt under the skin i to 2 cm. above 

 and below the wound. After the operation an antiseptic 

 bandage is applied, resting upon the fetlock. The bandage 

 should remain eight days and the cutaneous wound heal by 

 first intention. Care should be taken to not wound the 

 tendon of the extenson pedis longus muscle. 



Recently it has been proposed to permanently obliterate 

 the function of the peroneus muscle by severing its tendon 

 within its tarsal sheath above and below the tarsus and 

 withdraw the isolated section. The same object may be 

 attained by merely severing the tendon within its sheath 

 below the tarsus, if the operation is carried out under aseptic 

 precautions because when thus performed the epithelium 

 advances over the retracted cut ends and leaves them free 

 in the sheath. 



35. CUNEAN TENOTOMY. 

 Plate XXV. 



Object. The relief of spavin lameness. 



Instruments. Razor, scissors, straight scalpel, Peters' 

 spavin knife. 



Technic. Most horses can be operated on standing, with 

 the aid of cocaine, otherwise cast, or secure on the operat- 

 ing table, on the affected side and extend the tarsus. Shave 

 and disinfect an area 5 to 6 cm, square on the inferior median 

 surface of the hock over the course of the cunean tendon of 

 the chief flexor of the metatarsus, as indicated in Plate 

 XXV. Locate the tendon, CT, by palpation as it passes 

 obliquely downward and backward and make a transverse 

 incision with a straight scalpel or tenotome, in the form of 



