458 
ON MYoITIS. 
fected ; a state, I have no doubt, which has often been confounded 
with tetanus, a disease quite distinct. These belong to the acutest 
form ; but the most general and the least known are the chronic 
or subacute conditions : one form of stringhalt is an instance, and 
I am strongly disposed to believe that, properly speaking, broken 
wind also belongs to this disease ; but the one the most frequently 
occurring is the affection of the fore limb, and this generally of 
the flexor muscles. This disease of the fore limb has been gene- 
rally called contraction of the tendons , and as such it has been 
treated. It was for this malady that tenotomy was devised ; and, 
if I do not err, it was introduced into this country more than twenty 
years ago by Professor Dick; but, from some remarks of Pro- 
fessor Dick’s, with which I have been but recently acquainted, if 
I do not misconceive the tendency of the statement, the Professor’s 
views are, that the cause of the shortening of the flexors arises 
from the contraction of a band of the aponeurosis, or of a ligament- 
ous expansion just above the knee-joint : at least, I so understand 
the description, for it is not very clearly expressed ; but whether 
I understand correctly or not, I am not going to dispute the sound- 
ness of the Professor’s view ; all I can say is, that I have not 
observed such a state or condition of parts ; but I am, at the same 
time, totally unable to say that it does not exist. What I mean 
is an affection of the muscular fibres of the flexors of the fore limb, 
which may consist of morbid shortening or contraction, or of the 
reverse, a deficiency of contractile power : the first form is most 
commonly to be met with. 
Tendon in itself is inelastic, and though it may be thickened, 
enlarged, or otherwise altered in structure, I have never been able 
clearly to ascertain that morbid contraction has taken place : I, of 
course, except those cases of direct injury from accidents : neither, 
on the contrary, have I been able to demonstrate abnormal elonga- 
tion, except in a few rare instances where the fibres themselves 
have been lacerated (the suspensory ligament is a different struc- 
ture, and therefore does not here come under consideration). 
We are all of us too prone to be satisfied by outward appear- 
ances, and thereby frequently mistake that for a cause which, in 
reality, is a result ; and hence arrive at conclusions at variance with 
the truth, and are surprised to find that oftentimes our best laid 
plans for a curative treatment are of no avail. Had it not been for 
the experience derived from failures, I should never have been led 
to inquire into the minutiae of obscure diseases and lamenesses ; 
and, thus driven to it, the causes of failure too often shewed them- 
selves to have arisen from my own want of perspicuity in diag- 
nosis. 
I have before animadverted on the impolicy of taking an out- 
