246 
LAMENESS IN HORSES. 
the bistoury to the tendons themselves, he commences incising 
them by a steady but firm and strong sawing movement, until both 
be completely divided. I say, he is to hold the bistoury — which 
ought to be a stout one — firmly, and to use it with some force, 
since such is the dense and tough texture of these tendons that 
they are not cut completely through without some determination. 
Complete division being made of them, the heel of the foot may 
not — in all probability will not — come down without some exten- 
sion of the leg ; and this must be made, not by such violence as Mr. 
Goodenough found himself compelled to use ; still, with such force 
as will, if possible, make the limb straight, by stretching or even 
tearing through adhesions of moderate standing, so far as this can be 
effected without the risk of rupturing ligament or fracturing bone. 
The giving way of adhesions, in such cases, is frequently attended 
with a sort of snap or jerk, denotive of their being overcome, and 
by this the end is known to be answered : such adhesions and im- 
pediments to extension being commonly situate about or in the 
vicinity of the fetlock joint. The usual and most effective mode of 
accomplishing the extension is to place the knee against the front 
of the fetlock, and, grasping the back of the foot with one hand and 
the upper end of the leg with the other, to use such steady and mode- 
rate force as will accomplish the object without doing thereby harm. 
This done, the divided ends of the tendons recede from each other, 
leaving a gap between them of one or two inches, or even more, 
dependent upon circumstances. 
The Treatment after the Operation will consist, more in 
watching the progress of healing than in any thing that can be done 
to promote it any great deal. The external wound not being di- 
rectly opposite to the internal one, will require nothing, save it be 
a suture or two at the time to prevent its gaping ; and these will 
have to be withdrawn so soon as suppuration shall appear. A wet 
linen well-applied bandage will be requisite to give support to the 
leg. But the grand aim of the practitioner must be, to maintain, to 
the extent of his power, by such means as appear best calculated 
for the purpose, the proper position of the limb. It will not do 
to endeavour to effect this suddenly. To parts which for a length 
of time have become settled to, and seemingly have enjoyed, a 
false position, it will take time, and considerable time too, to restore 
a proper one. No force or violence must be employed to bring 
about this : it must be accomplished by degrees, and by humour- 
ing — if I may use such a word here — rather than by any sud- 
den or harsh usage. In some cases the heel of the “ cut” limb 
may for a short time at first require being kept raised, or it may 
not. On the other hand, after a time, the long-toed shoe may be 
called for, to force the animal to place his heel upon the ground, 
