216 VETERINARY MEDIOINE AND SURGERY. 



anterior part. Tliis acts as a lever upon the toe, forcing the heel down- 

 wards, and prevents "knuckling over" on the front of the fetlock-joint. 



Tenotomy, or division of the tendons, is thus performed: — The ani- 

 mal is first cast, the hiine leg, heing on the ground, is loosed from the 

 hobbles, and secured by a rope-strap around the fetlock held by an assist- 

 ant. A small wound is then made about the middle of the leg on the 

 inner side in a longitudinal direction, directly over the groove or depres- 

 sion formed between the bone and tendons, and the attachment by sub- 

 cutaneous tissue between the tendons and the suspensory ligament also 

 must be cut through as far as the skin below, the knife being used fiat- 

 wise. A probe-pointed knife is then inserted fiatwise as far as the skin 

 on the lower side, then turned edge towards the tendons, when by grad- 

 ual cutting they are divided. The existence of old-standing adhesions 

 about the tendons and fetlock-Joint may prevent straightening of the 

 limb, but if the operator places his knee against the front of the cannon 

 bone, and by pulling at the foot forwards, the obstructions will be broken 

 down. Only one skin wound is necessary; two orifices render the recov- 

 ery tardy and awkward. Union of the lips is secured by sutures, and 

 cold-water bandages may be applied afterwards, or the antiseptic treat- 

 ment followed. The animal may be placed in slings, and the head tied 

 up, the feet being divested of shoes, and hoofs trimmed to proper pro- 

 portions. By degress the animal brings the heels to the ground and 

 bears weight upon the foot, and union is usually effected in two months, 

 or thereabouts, sufficiently to enable the animal to go to ordinary work. 



The operation, although promising in itself, and successful in restor- 

 ing the limb to its natural position, very frequently proves a source of 

 disappointment, from the fact that the reparative material, which is 

 thrown out between the ends of the divided tendons, gradually contracts-, 

 whereby the tendons are made as short as before it has been performed. 

 In the hind leg this contraction is the usual consequence, and the ten- 

 dency to it has to be overcome by a lever at the toe of the shoe. This 

 often arrests, but seldom finally prevents it. In the fore extremity the 

 operation is much more successful, the limb maintaining its natural con- 

 dition for yeai's afterwards. 



SPRAIN OF THE SUSPENSORY LIGAMENT. 



Symptoms.— Sprain, or simple extension of the suspensory ligament, 

 according to the extent of injury, gives rise to lameness, swelling along 



