PARASITES—TU MORS. 281 
The section of the tendon of the lateral extensor of the phalanges was 
recommended by Boccar as early as 1845. Having found that tendon 
retracted and hard, -he divided it at the point of its junction with that of 
the anterior extensor of the phalanges, and obtained a complete recovery. 
To perform the operation, the animal is cast on the sound side; the 
affected leg is either left in the hobble or carried over the correspond- 
ing fore leg; the skin is shaved and disinfected ; the straight tenotome is 
planted on the posterior border of the tendon, then under it to the middle 
of its metatarsal region ; the curved tenotome is then substituted for it. 
The instrument well in place, the tendon is divided by bringing it in con- 
tact with its sharp edge. The wound, covered with a little iodoformed 
collodion, cicatrizes rapidly by first intention. A removal of a small piece 
of the tendon (Delwart) has been suggested, but this practice has no real 
advantage except to retard the cicatrization. When the animal has got up, 
it is not unusual to see that the phalanges do not extend sufficiently, the 
fetlock flexes forward and strikes on the ground; but after a few days 
the regularity of the gait returns. There are cases in which, as in the 
first case of Boccar, springhalt subsides immediately. More commonly, 
the irregularity of the flexion motions disappears gradually, while cicatriza- 
tion goes on, and the animal is given light exercise, It would be ad- 
vantageous to have the animal walked during the time following the 
operation, 
Performed by Delwart, Brogniez, Foelen, Trinchera, Palat, Sergent, Guit- 
tet, Gérard, Humbert, Adrian and Blaise, this tenotomy is said to have been 
successful in numerous cases. Sergent has recorded fourteen observations 
with the following results: Nine complete recoveries, four almost com- 
plete, and one improvement. These are very encouraging. Out of six 
horses tenotomy of the lateral extensor has given to Adrian and Schelameur 
four successful cases, one half successful and one failure ; Blaise has had two 
successful cases and one failure; Moller has also been successful. We 
have been lessfortunate. Like Siedamgrotzky, we have failed in produc- 
ing springhalt, operating as Brogniez did, and upon three affected animals 
the section of the lateral extensor has failed. 
‘According to Dieckerhoff, it is preferable, in case of principally long- 
standing springhalt, to cut both the tendon and the tibial aponeurosis. 
The horse having been thrown on the sound side, the shank is tied up 
above the hock with a cord or elastic ligature to cut off the circulation 
and facilitate the reaching of the aponeurosis at the place of operation. 
1 Dr. W. H. Curtis has operated on a large horse and removed about half an 
inch of the tendon, operating close to its union with the extensor pedes. The 
case was one of two years! standing and very sevete, Recovery was perfect, 
(Amer, Vet, Rev, vol. &x., P. 497+) 
