TENDINOUS RUPTURES. 301 
large animals, but it is wise to keep the animal in slings. (See Wounds 
of the Cord of the Hock.) In the case of a horse, recovery has been ob- 
tained in two months by Martens, in two months and a half by Griiner. 
LV.—Anterior Extensor of the Phalanges. 
Rupture of this is frequently congenital. In Knoll’s observation, it is a 
colt two days old, which had, on the right forearm, a rupture of the fleshy 
portion of the muscle, and on the left leg, a rupture of the tendon of the 
same muscle. Chassaing has often observed the same trouble in new-born 
subjects. The rupture may be complete or incomplete, exist on one or 
both legs. Generally, it takes place on a level with the knee. If com- 
plete, the patient cannot stand up; and in front of the joint two round 
little tumors are felt a few centimeters apart from each other; they are 
the ends of the tendon. In incomplete rupture, standing is almost impos- 
sible, At the post-mortem examination of several animals, Chassaing 
found, on a level with the carpal sheath, the tendon thinned down to half 
its thickness, or the two tendinous stumps completely separated. In all 
the cases the sheath was inflamed, and contained more or less synovia. 
When the rupture was complete, all forms of treatment were useless. 
Partial lacerations recovered by immobilization or simple friction with cam- 
phorated alcohol. Ina thirteen year old horse, Gavard observed, on 
the left fore leg, a partial rupture of the tendon of the extensor, occurring 
after a mis-step of the animal. In walking the digit remained flexed on 
the canon, and rested for its support on the toe or the anterior face of the 
foot. There was great pain in front of the fetlock and a peculiar soften- 
ing of that part. At the post-mortem examination the tendon was found 
thinned and degenerated. 
Immobilization and cold to allay the inflammatory phenomena, and later 
blisters, are sufficient for the recovery of a healthy tendon. 
V—Flexors of the Phalanges. 
The rupture of the tendons of the flexors of the phalanges is an accident 
quite frequent. Already in 1854, St. Cyr, in his memoirs, reported ten 
observations. Since then a number of others have been recorded. 
Although, sometimes, as proved by the case of Rodel, rupture of this 
tendon may occur, when it is healthy, as a result of violent actions, it is, 
nevertheless, most commonly due to degenerative changes, and to soften- 
ing brought on by chronic phlegmasia, rheumatism, tendinous quittor 
Leblanc, Saint-Cyr), synovitis (Patter), necrosis of the plantar aponeuro- 
sis from punctured wounds (Rey, Saint-Cyr), navicular disease and plantar 
neurotomy (Renault, Beaugnot, Mollereau). In injured horses, whose 
anterior quarters were supported by only one leg, Serres saw this leg be- 
