VOL. XXI.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 377 



an inch above its divided extremity ; the 2d needle d was thrust through this 

 upper part of the tendon, a little under the former, lest the two threads 

 should meet each other at their crossing in the middle of the tendon. After- 

 wards both the needles were passed through the lower part of the divided 

 tendon B. The foot being held extended, the two ends of the tendon were 

 applied to each other, by the assistance of the ligatures c, D, which were so 

 tied as to keep the divided parts close together, while the foot remained in 

 this posture. After the four ends of these ligatures were cut off, I found it 

 was necessary to bring the sides of the divided skin nearer each other, with one 

 single stitch, a little above the suture of the tendon. This done, a pledget of 

 lint, dipped in balsam of turpentine, was laid on the wounds, and another large 

 pledget of flax, armed with linimentum e gummi elemi, over it. After the 

 application of common bandages, bolsters, &c. I found it necessary to place a 

 thick piece of pasteboard, of a convenient arched figure, on the fore-parts o'" 

 the foot and leg to keep the part inflected, and prevent any motion of it, 

 which might break out the stitches in the tendon. The patient complained 

 very much in passing the needles through the upper part of the divided 

 tendon; though its middle and internal part at the division was scarcely 

 sensible of the touch of my finger. He had no pain in passing the needles 

 through the lower part of the tendon. After 14 ozo of blood were taken from 

 his arm, I left him on his bed. Six hours after, I found his pulse somewhat 

 quicker than before : he then took 1 oz. of syrup, de meconio. The next 

 morning I found him in no ill condition, having had some sleep that night, 

 but was often awakened with twitchings in the calf of the wounded leg. The 

 third day after the operation, I dressed the wound with the same applications 

 as before ; only using a fomentation, made of a docoction of wormwood, sage, 

 rosemary, bay-leaves, &c. On the 4th day after the operation I found the 

 applications on the wound very wet with a serous humor, commonly called a 

 gleet. On the 6th day the matter became somewhat thicker, and the skin 

 being a little distended about the wound, I was obliged to divide the last men- 

 tioned stitch to admit of the free discharge of the pus, which on the two suc- 

 ceeding days became much thicker than before, and the gleet consequently 

 lessened. 



About this time the 2 ends of the tendon were not a little dilated, and a 

 white slough appeared on it, towards the upper part of the wound; on which, 

 instead of the balsam of turpentine, I applied tincture of myrrh. Some days 

 after, this slough came off, and the two ends of the tendon were over- spread 

 with a fungous flesh, by which I was assured that its blood vessels and nutritive 

 tubes were not compressed by the first two ligatures. Afterwards I made use 



VOL. IV. 3C 



