142 DIVISION OF THE TENDON OF THE FLEXOR PERFORAN 
the limb in a slight degree wider than usual; and so completely h 
the part recovered, that had it not been for the small scar whi 
remained of the wound, a stranger could not have known tl 
any accident had taken place. 
I am, Gentlemen, 
Your most obedient Servant, 
William Die 
Edinburgh, 
19th February, 1829. 
_I 
DIVISION OF THE TENDON OF THE FLEXOR PE 
FORANS, IN A CASE OF CHRONIC LAMENESS. 
By Mr. J. B. Wells, Wymondham. 
I WAS requested,in June last, to look at a chesnut horse, beloi- 
ing to Mr. John Barnard, of Ellingham, which I was inform I 
had been lame and useless upwards of three years, from a spr; i 
of the tendon of the off hind leg. The extremity, from the he; 
downwarel, had been blistered, fired, and blistered repeated, 
without the patient obtaining any relief; and the horse was to \ 
destroyed if I saw no chance of recovery. 
On examining the parts, I found no unnatural heat or tend- 
ness. The inflammation caused by the previous injury havijj 
entirely subsided. The foot was so much drawn up by the pi 
manent contraction of the flexor muscles, that the front of U 
fetlock-joint came in contact with the ground at every step; al 
the horse has been nine hours in coming a distance ol sen 
miles. 
Being convinced of the impossibility of reducing the contract ! 
of the flexors by any mechanical means, I determined on ij 
division of the tendon of the biceps flexor perforans postil 
muscle, which I accordingly effected midway between the he; 
and the fetlock-joint. The navicular joint having been thro I 
into a state of inactivity or rest for a long time, from the posit; 
of the foot, I thought it right to perform the operation of neu- 
tomy, in the usual way, at the fetlock-joint. 
The horse walked much better after the operation, and ie 
foot was easily extended; but he had a peculiar gait, similar to 
horse affected with strong halt, which gradually subsided. It 
incision was dressed with digestive ointment, and a poultice i ■ 
plied for a few days. The wound was quite healed withira 
month, and the horse rendered free from pain and lamenessjj 
which time he went home. At the expiration of another moil 
he was put to plough, and has continued at work to the pres tl 
time, without any appearance of return of the disease. 
