LAMENESS IN HORSES. 
245 
but was “ straight,” and the foot treads “ in the natural position.” 
“ The owner said he was as strong on the cut leg as on the other.” 
These cases will be sufficient to shew the variable success, de- 
pending on circumstances, sometimes apparent, sometimes unfore- 
seen and unavoidable, attending the operation. I will now produce 
a case in illustration of an incidental mishap which all under- 
takers of this bold operation must calculate beforehand the proba- 
bilities or improbabilities of meeting with ; and I do this in order 
that practitioners may in their minds be prepared for such-like 
unwelcome occurrences and results. 
Mr. Goodenough, Y.S., Driffield, divided the flexor tendons for 
“ contraction” in the usual way. But, after he had so done, he 
found he could not force the bent leg back into its straight or 
proper position. He fastened halters to the refractory limb, and 
employed four men to exert their strength in its extension. At 
the moment of their utmost efforts “ a loud crack was heard,” 
which frightened the men and surprised the operator. A few days 
were allowed to pass, when, no hopes whatever appearing of re- 
covery, the horse was destroyed. It was found that the sesamoid 
bones had contracted adhesions to the metacarpal bone, and that 
these (adhesions) had sustained the force used for extension, while 
the sesamoids had become thereby fractured in twain. 
The Operation of Tenotomy, though a formidable one for 
the patient, is not a difficult one for the operator. The object is, 
section of the flexor tendons; the effect of which, as we have seen, 
is to let down the heel of the foot, not the fetlock, to the ground. 
The flexor tendons support the pastern and foot joints principally; 
the fetlock joint having the additional strong support of the suspen- 
sory ligament, which it still retains after the tendons have been cut 
through. This accounts for the heel of the foot, without the fetlock, 
being let down by the operation of tenotomy. 
Having cast the horse, and so secured the limb to be operated 
on that there is not much chance of any interruption being occa- 
sioned through its motion, I recommend that a longitudinal incision, 
three or four inches in length, be made through the skin, along the 
back of the leg, down upon the middle portion of the flexor per- 
foratus tendon. This incision freely and boldly made at once, the 
operator will be able to stretch the mouth of the wound he has 
made round to the inner side of the leg; in which stretched position 
the skin is to be held by an assistant, while the operator intro- 
duces the fore finger of his left hand to push back the bloodvessels 
and nerve (which run along the inner borders of the tendons) 
against the suspensory ligament, so that they be safe out of the 
way, while with the right hand he insinuates his bistoury between 
them and the flexor tendons. Opposing, now, the cutting edge of 
