DIVISION OF TIIE FLEXOlt TENDON. 
205 
be covered, if it can be readily obtained, with tan, otherwise soil, 
in order to prevent its being fed upon, and the virus coming in 
contact with an abraded surface, either in the mouth, stomach, 
or intestines, and thus generate the disease. 
ACCIDENTAL DIVISION OF THE FLEXOR TENDON 
OF THE IIIND LEG— PERFECT CURE. 
By Mr. J. Hayes. 
On the 0th of February 1825, I was sent for to Mr. Loyd’s, 
Oldfield Hall, near Altrincham, Cheshire, in which place I 
then resided. Mr. Loyd had started that morning in his one- 
horse phaeton, to go to Manchester. When he had got about 
one mile on the road, the horse took fright, and dashed to the 
other side of the road, where, coming in contact with some heaps 
of broken stones, he upset the vehicle, and by his kicking and 
struggling, completely divided the flexor tendon of the left hind 
leg, about four inches above the large pastern joint. They ma- 
naged to get him home with great difficulty. When he walked or 
stood, the superior pastern joint was resting on the ground, the 
foot lying with the heel on the ground, and the toe turned upper- 
most in front of the leg. The opinion of the people about him 
was, that he should be destroyed ; but he being a fine animal, and 
a favourite one also, Mr. L. was reluctant to give the order. 
I explained to him the nature of the accident, and what was 
the general opinion of veterinarians on divided tendon; and I 
added, I had a doubt on my mind as to the supposed impro- 
bability or impossibility of uniting a ruptured tendon, although 
I was fully aware of the difficulty of the case. I had never seen 
or heard of the experiment being fairly tried ; but expressed a 
desire to attempt it, and said that if he would allow me to do so, 
I would charge nothing if the result was unfavourable; to which 
he readily assented. 
I first got a very strong shoe made, with the heels continuing 
up the posterior part of the pasterns, as far as the great pastern 
joint, where the two heels, as it were, joined together, and formed 
a strong iron stay, which continued up the posterior part of the 
shank, as high as the hock joint. This was made so as to hold 
the leg, and bear standing on, in the same position as a leg in 
its proper sound state. This stay was well padded on the inside ; 
with loop-holes made in three different parts of it, for padded 
straps to go through and buckle round the leg, as seen in the 
annexed figure. 
VOL. ix. 
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