WOUNDS. 287 
and internal branch of the suspensory ligament without any injury to the 
principal metatarsal bone. In cases where such serious lesions exist, and 
in general where there is complication of synovitis or arthritis, no treat- 
ment is justifiable. 
" SPECIAL TENDINOUS WOUNDS. 
All superficial tendons are exposed to traumatisms; all can be in- 
volved in wounds. On the extremities these lesions are peculiarly com- 
mon on the cord of the hock, the extensors and flexors of the foot. 
L. Tendo Achiltis. 
On account of the situation and the projection above the point of the 
hock, the tendo Achillis and the tibial portion of the perforatus, they 
are much exposed to external violence. Their complete section, observed 
in horses, cattle, dogs and swine, brings on the functional incompetency 
of the leg. If the animal rests upon this leg, the canon flexes under the 
weight of the body, the croup drops down on the corresponding side, the 
posterior face of the metatarsus and of the tarsus has a tendency to come 
into contact with the ground, and it walks like a plantigrade (Fig. 67). 
Spontaneous recovery may occur in all species. Bouley, Jr., men- 
tions the case of a horse which recovered spontaneously from a complete 
section of the tendo Achillis produced by the thrust of a sword. Four 
months afterwards there remained no trace of the accident. St. Cyr has 
seen a six-month-old pig recover without any care, and also a heifer 
which had rupture of the cord of the hock with extensive wounds and 
sloughs. Collin records the history of four dogs upon which the cord of 
the hock had been cut on one leg to prevent them from running out 
with a hunting party; four months later they ran off again, when a similar 
operation was performed on both hocks; six months later they were 
permitted and able to return to their hunting. 
These natural recoveries are not, howevet, to be depended upon, and 
in all cases the practitioner must try to reduce the extent of the cicatrix, 
which is often accompanied with a great elongation of the tendon—even 
of seven centimeters in the case of Barthélémy, which required the destruc- 
tion of the horse. . 
To keep the tendinous stumps in contact and prevent complications 
are the two principal objects in view. This is no easy task in our large 
animals. The patient should be placed in a suspensory apparatus (slings) 
and the leg immobilized in extension. For this several means are re- 
commended. To hold the two hind legs together with hobbles (Delorme) 
is not enough. To fix the leg in extension with a hobble, the chain or 
tope of which is secured to a wall behind the animal (Vigney), seems to 
