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282 VETERINARY SURGICAL THERAPEUTICS. 
The surgeon incises the skin below the hock on the terminal tendon of 
the peroneo-phalangeal muscle ; in the incision he introduces the blunt 
tenotome upon the aponeurosis, which he cuts transversely. Then the 
pointed tenotome is introduced under the tendon and divides it trans- 
versely. The curved tenotome can also be used in this second step of 
the operation. Wolff has obtained several successful results with this 
method of Dieckerhoff. 
Hertwig has recommended the section of the fascia lata. The animal 
having been cast on the sound leg, a short incision is made eight or ten 
centimeters below the angle of the hip, into which a grooved director 
is introduced under the fleshy portion of the muscle. The straight bis- 
toury, guided by this director, divides the muscle from within outwards. 
In this way Bassi has cured a mule. 
The section of the cord of the flexor metatarsi has been suggested. The 
animal is thrown on the lame leg, the upper leg being carried forward and 
secured on the upper fore leg. Above the hock the cord is easily felt. 
On a line between the lower and middle third of the tibia, with the 
straight tenotome the skin and tibial aponeurosis are punctured and 
pushed under the cord. The curved tenotome is then introduced in its 
place and the tendon divided from backward to forward. A coat of 
iodoformed collodion closes the wound and cicatrization takes place rapidly. 
But ordinarily the trouble continues as before. 
Pare the foot plumb, taking for guide the axis of the digital region, 
and treat the contraction, if it exists, are the rules of Watrin’s treatment. 
The unshod foot is poulticed with clay for several days, and then a shoe 
with ears is placed on it. Every ten or twelve days, the shoe is spread, 
the feet widen, the cartilages, “ softened, do not longer hook against the 
second phalanx.” In some horses whose feet are much contracted the 
springhalt subsides gradually and disappears with this treatment (Weber, 
Montagnac). 
For Bassi, the section of the internal anterior patellar is the operation 
which offers the best chance of success. (See Psexdo-Luxation of the 
Patella.) 
Upon an animal suffering with springhalt of both legs, we have suc- 
cessively, and without noticeable result, performed the section of the an- 
terior tibial nerve, of the lateral extensor of the phalanges, of the plantar 
nerves below the fetlock, and of the cord of the flexor metatarsi. We in- 
tended to divide the internal patellar ligament, but we lost sight of the 
case. In another, where the springhalt was very severe (Fig. 63) we 
divided the great sciatic nerve on the lower third of the leg; four days 
after the operation the function of the leg was normal; a month later the 
