606 



DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 



nerve, and the tendons are divided ; the skin behind must not be 

 cut, as the ends of the tendon may protrude, 

 giving rise to fungus growths. The foot should 

 now be easily brought into its natural position ; 

 if not, some force should be used to bring it back 

 "by placing, the knee against the front or pro- 

 jecting part of it, at the same time laying hold 

 of the foot with one hand, and the upper part of 

 the leg with the other, and using considerable 

 force." This is sometimes necessary to break up 

 adhesions which may have formed. A stitch or 

 two should be put in the wound, and a thick 

 woolen bandage kept constantly wet \with cold 

 water should be applied for some days. If much 

 inflammation ensues, a poultice should be ap- 

 plied, and some purgative medicine, given. 



If the fetlock descends too much, the heels 

 should be raised. If adhesions take place during. 

 Winn.*" ° Uttlne * he rec °very, a tipped shoe should be put on the foot. 

 In from two to three months he will be fit for work. 

 In a conversation with Dr. Hamill about this operation, in ex- 

 plaining the simplicity and success of the operation,' he referred to 

 a case in point. To make the mat- 

 ter more clear to the general reader, 

 I made the request that he would 

 write out a statement of the method 

 of treatment used by him, with a 

 drawing showing the position of the 

 foot before being operated upon ; 

 also drawings of his method of ad- 

 justment for holding the foot in po- 

 sition after the operation, which are 

 here given : — 



Fig. 025.— Showing the 

 Position of the Foot 

 Before/ being Oper- 

 > ated Upon. 



a, Point to enter the 

 e fo 

 tendons. 



Tenotomy, or Division of 

 the Tendons. 



Fig. 926.— Drawing of the Shoe and 



Bar Used for the Treatment of 



the Case Referred To. 



This is one of the simplest, as well as, one 

 of the most useful operations in equine sur- 

 gery, as it will restore to normal position and 



strength a limb which has been so much deformed by contraction of the great flexor 

 tendon of the foot, as to leave an otherwise good horse utterly useless. This con- 

 traction causes what is known as knuekling, or descending forward and down- 

 ward of the fetlock joint toward the ground. < 



