312 OPEEATIONS ON MUSCLES AND THEIR ANNEXES. 



result of the presence of clots of blood or other mortified tissues 

 in the wound, and is iadicated by the bad appearance of the parts, 

 the peculiar cedematous sweUing, first warm and painful, but sub- 

 sequently becoming cool and painless. This condition requires 

 prompt and efficient treatment, both external and internal. 



In Solipeds. — We once had occasion to resort to crural myotomy 

 for the rehef of a case of pseudo-dislocation of the patella of several 

 months' standing. The diyision was made towards the lower por- 

 tion of the muscle, and was followed by satisfactory results, though 

 not immediately. 



OPEEATIONS UPON FIBROUS TISSUES. 



Tenotomy. 



In the terminology of surgery, tenotomy means the section of 

 tendons — an operation which contemplates the correction of de- 

 formities, from whatever cause they may proceed; the rehef of 

 pressure upon exostoses, and the prevention of the complete execu- 

 tion of a normal function, as that of flying in birds. Our atten- 

 tion will, accordingly, be directed to the study of the five varieties 

 of plantar, carpal, antibrachial and tarsal tenotomy, with that of 

 the wings of birds. 



Plantae Tenotomy. 



This operation is the proper remedy for the deformity known 

 as kntickling, or the malposition which arises from the exaggerated 

 flexion of the fetlock joint, and consists in the subcutaneous section 

 of the tendons of the flexor of the phalanges. 



In this affection of knuckling, which is mostly peciiliar to 

 soHpeds, there is lameness more or less marked, with a haxd and 

 painful enlargement of the tendons, and a consequent interference 

 with the act of locomotion, caused by an incomplete flexion of the 

 articulations. The fetlock is carried forward, and contact with the 

 ground is effected with the toe alone. 



Instances of spontaneous cure or abatement are exceedingly 

 rare. On the contrary, it has a tendency to aggravation, the swell- 

 ing increasing, and the deformity becoming by degrees more and 

 more developed, untU at length the anterior face of the wall of the 

 foot rests on the ground, and the case assumes all the well estab- 



