FRACTURE OF THE BONES OF THE HOCK, 7l\ 
be made to suture the tendon. (See p. 148 of Dollar’s Operative 
Technique.”) 
Union is more rapid when the tendon is ruptured than when it is 
torn away from the os calcis. Partial ruptures, in which some weight, 
however slight, can still be placed on the limb, are more hopeful. As 
a rule, the more marked the degree of flexion, the slighter the chance 
of recovery. Recovery is often protracted by elongation of the tendon 
and consequent lameness. 
Treatment. In small animals the hock-joint should be as much 
as possible extended and a plaster bandage applied. Larger animals, 
like horses, are slung, so as to keep the hock continuously extended, 
and the ends of the divided tendon or muscle as close as possible 
together. In quiet horses this may be assisted by bandaging and 
applying adhesive plaster. Such a dressing certainly allows of some 
movement, but for this very reason is better borne than the rigid plaster 
bandage or than splints, St, Cyr stated that the latter are apt to 
produce excoriation, and that it is often better not to check movement. 
Martens saw the divided Achilles tendon unite in two months without 
the horse being slung, and Griiner in two and a half months. Light 
horses, when rising or lying down, are better able to protect the injured 
limb, and may be left free in a box, though even then a dressing 
is useful, if the animal does not attempt to displace it by violently 
flexing the limb. In cows, Detroye applies a gutter-shaped splint to 
the back of the hock-joint, and fastens it by straps to the tibia and 
metatarsus. 
Wounds of the flexor tendons heal with still greater difficulty unless 
rendered aseptic, but that asepsis is quite possible is shown by Martens’ 
and Gruner’s cases. Particular precautions are necessary in injuries 
about the tuberosity of the os calcis. 
D. DISEASES OF THE HOCK. 
I.—FRACTURE OF THE BONES OF THE HOCK. 
(a) F racture of the os calcis. Fractures of the bones of the hock 
are, on the whole, rare, though cases have been seen, especially of 
the calcis and astragalus bones. Apart from those described above in 
which the Achilles tendon is torn away from the tuberosity of the calcis, 
fractures of this bone are produced by external violence, by kicks, or 
sometimes by blows with the farrier’s hammer. Detroye saw three 
cases—one in a horse, one in a steer, and one in a calf. The horse had 
produced the fracture by slipping when rising in the stable. The bone 
was broken just above its articulation with the astragalus. In the steer 
