678 
OPERATION OF TENOTOMY IN THE HORSE. 
but in all well-made sections, the inflammatory product is of 
small amount, and takes little share in the healing; of the 
wound. Indications of their forming fibrous tissue have 
never been seen. 
This temporary bond of union is of a reddish-gray colour 
presenting here and there points of exuded blood, which 
give to the whole a mottled aspect. The ends of the divided 
tendon are of a ruddy hue and slightly enlarged. 
Two or three days after the operation, the effect on the 
injured nerves having passed off, and the blood-vessels having 
regained their normal condition, an exudation of the true 
material for reparation takes place, out of which fibrous 
structure, identical with tendon or ligament, is ultimately 
formed. The temporary bond now degenerates, the lymph- 
cells become shrivelled, and finally disappear altogether. 
The new portion which intervenes between the divided 
ends of the ligament or tendon is composed of the same 
structure as the original, but the fibres are not so uniformly 
arranged; for while those of the old are placed side by side, 
in a direction parallel with each other, and in a line with the 
long axis of the tendon, those of the new substance take a 
very indefinite course, being interwoven with each other in 
various directions. 
As the development of the new substance advances it 
becomes tougher and stronger, so that at the end of about 
two weeks it is capable of supporting more weight than 
might be expected. But at this stage the newly forming 
tissue is easily elongated, and thus it often happens that the 
organ operated on becomes too long, and should it be one of 
the flexor tendons, the toe will turn up more than is desirable. 
After a time, however, the new substance will contract in 
all directions; it becomes shorter, and likewise smaller in 
circumference, more dense, better defined, and less yielding; 
therefore if the elongation be not too great, we may calculate, 
that when these changes have taken place, the tendon or 
ligament will be as near as possible of the proper length. 
But, on the other hand, should it appear to be of a suitable 
length during the process of reparation, it will be found, 
after the new structure has fully contracted, to be far too 
short to allow the foot being placed in a proper position on 
the ground; and although the shortening of the organ will 
not be so great as before the operation, yet it will be suffi¬ 
ciently so as to render the operation an unsuccessful one. 
The tendon of the horse which I operated upon at Bromley, 
Essex (see page 555), in which the wound healed so satis¬ 
factorily, was found, after the new parts had contracted to 
