554 OPERATION OF TENOTOMY IN THE HORSE. 
old as in young animals. In old horses, there is a certain 
amount of danger in casting them, and, in the next place, 
in consequence of the hard and rigid state of the structures 
operated upon, reparation as a rule is very tardy and im¬ 
perfect. Also, various kinds and stages of disease, either of 
the limb or limbs operated upon, or of the system generally, 
will interfere with the reparative process, and so likewise 
will debility, or plethora, either being in excess; the former 
by not affording exudative matter of a proper quality out of 
which normal tissue can be formed, the latter, by there being 
so much blood in the part as will induce the suppurative 
action, and thus tend to frustrate our object. A scrofulous 
habit of body, or the system being imbued with the poison 
of glanders, or the limb or limbs locally affected with farcy, 
would as a matter of course forbid an operation of this kind 
being performed, for if performed it would most likely be 
followed by unhealthy action. 
The operation of tenotomy, or ligotomy, is in reality a 
very safe and simple one, when performed bv those who have 
any pretensions to a knowledge of surgery ; and the after 
treatment also is as simple. The principal thing to be ob¬ 
served is, so to manage the parts operated upon as to produce 
a proper length of the tendon or ligament divided, when 
reparation is completed. Respecting this we shall state the 
results of our own practice hereafter. 
Respecting the kind of operation, that is, whether the 
subcutaneous, or open wound, is preferable for the division 
of the tendon or ligament, I am decidedly in favour of the 
former, being thoroughly satisfied of the advantages it has 
over the open-wound mode. It is less dangerous, leaves less 
blemish, and is a much quicker process. 
With regard to subcutaneous wounds generally, the justly 
celebrated John Hunter makes the following remarks. “The 
injury done to a sound part I shall divide into two, according 
to the effects. The first kind consists of those in which the 
injured parts do not communicate externally, as concussion 
of the whole body, or of particular parts, strains, bruises, and 
simple fractures, either of bones, or tendons, which form a 
large division. The second consists of those which have an 
external communication, comprehending wounds of all kinds, 
and compound fractures .... The injuries of the first 
division, in which the parts do not communicate externally, 
seldom inflame. While those of the second, both inflame and 
suppurate.” (See vol. iii, pp. 240 - 1 , of Hunter’s Works.) 
On this extract Professor Paget says, “ In these sentences 
Mr. Hunter has embodied the principle, on which is founded 
