ON THE DIVISION OF THE FLEXOR TENDON. 
By Mr. Charles Wills, V. S., Londonderry. 
I should not have sent the particulars of this operation to 
you, but looking over The Veterinarian prior to my per- 
forming it, I found a case related in the February number, page 
67, by Mr. Carlisle, and one in the March number, page 138, by 
Mr. Ramsden. There is a difference in the way in which the 
operation was performed by these gentlemen, and you solicit some 
practitioner to take up the subject. 
Although this is my first contribution to your valuable periodi- 
cal, I have been in the constant habit of reading it during the 
last seven years, and hope I shall not be considered presumptu- 
ous in commenting on the mode in which, in my opinion, the 
division of the flexor tendons may be best performed. 
Aug. 11. — l operated on a chestnut mare, the property of 
Richard Harvey, Esq. The animal was useless for work, and had 
been turned out to breed. In 1840 she produced a promising 
foal. In 1841 she cast her foal, which was thought to be from 
the pain she suffered. She is also stinted this year. A day 
or tw’o before the operation the groom called on me, by desire of 
his master, to know whether I could do any thing for her. I or- 
dered her to be brought to me before I would give my opinion. 
She accordingly was brought, and I at once stated it as my opi- 
nion that the leg might be restored to its natural position. She 
was left at my establishment. 
Knowing that when the extensor muscle lost its opposing 
power it would have a tendency, through the medium of the ten- 
don, to elevate the toe from the ground, I thought first of adopt- 
ing Mr. Ramsden’s plan ; but the impracticability of applying a 
roller or bandage above the knee induced me to think of some 
other mode of proceeding. I, therefore, had a shoe put on the 
foot of the affected leg which projected five inches behind the 
foot, with calkins an inch high. This had the desired effect; 
for when the animal rested her weight on the heels they acted as 
a lever and forced the toe to the ground. Being very low in con- 
dition, she needed no farther preparation. I had her thrown. 
It not being of any consequence whether the mark of the ope- 
ration would shew or not, I commenced by making an incision 
through the integument an inch long on the outer side of the 
leg, mid-way between the knee and pastern. I freed the tendon 
from its cellular connexion with other parts, and then, with a 
probe-pointed bistoury, I made a transverse section through it. 
