120 
R. W. FINLAY. 
SUGGESTIONS IN THE TREATMENT OF INJURIES OF 
TENDONS. 
By K. W. Finlay. 
(A paper read before the N. Y. State Veterinary Society.) 
It lias fallen to my lot during tlie past year to meet with sev¬ 
eral cases of injured flexor tendons among the trotting class of 
horses, many of whom have figured conspicuously in the twenty 
and thirty class, rendering them particularly interesting to me, 
from both a surgical and financial standpoint. 
The former condition, while it treats of the variety and nature 
of the wound inflicted, and its intimate relationship to the function 
of locomotion, presents phenomena and exigencies arising there¬ 
from, calling for all the acumen the surgeon possesses. Particularly 
so is this noticeable when, as it frequently happens, the accident 
occurs at some distance from the stable, and, as in several of the 
cases I am about to report, has taken place where modern appli¬ 
ances have been impossible to obtain. Of course, such are the 
fortunes of war—and no doubt many would suggest following 
the adage, “ In time of peace prepare for war.” But I may 
answer that in spite of all well regulated plans, we will be occasion 
ally surprised, or our supplies may run out. Under such circum¬ 
stances we naturally feel justified in utilizing whatever there may 
be at hand that will aid us in dressing the wound under just such 
circumstances. 
On the night of April 10th I was called professionally to treat 
the sorrell gelding George —record 2:26—who, while being driven 
before a top wagon, was run into from behind. The wagon was 
overturned and its occupants, a lady and gentleman (the owner of 
the animal), thrown out. The gentleman was dragged some dis¬ 
tance. Both occupants of the wagon fortunately escaped unhurt, 
though somewhat shaken up. The gelding, in his frantic efforts 
to free himself from.the wagon, lacerated the right and left hind 
legs about junction of the middle and the lower third of the meta¬ 
tarsal region posteriorly, lacerating the right for a space of one 
and one-half inches, completely reducing the sheath and the poste¬ 
rior tendon to a mass of pulp. The left was the recipient of 
distinct attention from probably the edge of the axle, for a space 
