208 
A. LIAUTAKD. 
In the month of August, on an old animal bought for that pur¬ 
pose, I divided sub-cutaneously the cord of the tendon of the 
flexor metatarsi of the off leg a little below its passage through 
the groove between the external and anterior tuberosity of the 
superior extremity of the tibia, being very careful to cut the 
tendon only, which can .be easily found free from its muscular 
connection. When allowed to get up, the animal presented all 
the manifestations observed in all the cases I saw. 
Some two weeks later he was thrown down, on tiie off side, and 
another experiment made on the near hip. An incision was made 
on the outside and a little in front of the tibia, the anterior extensor 
pedis drawn forward, the lateral extensor of the phalanges pushed 
outwards, the tendon of the flexor metatarsi well exposed and di¬ 
vision made down to the bone of the widest and thickest portion of 
the fleshy part of the muscle. Some hemorrhage followed from 
division of the anterior tibial artery—the wound was closed by 
several stitches, and the animal allowed to rise. When walked 
away from his bed, his action was perfect; the leg was carried 
forward without any trouble, the hock well flexed, there being no 
alteration in his gait, except on the opposite leg, which had been 
operated on two weeks previous. 
The animal is brought back to the bed, thrown down again on 
the off side—another incision made just above the tibio-tarsal 
joint, the tendon of the anterior pedis is well isolated, and then 
the entire structure of the muscles, which is there mostly 
tendinous, the two portions being on the point of subdividing 
into their quadrifications, is entirely divided. The animal is made 
free and allowed to get up. 
The manifestation of the symptoms is then immediate ; the 
animal drags his toe with much difficulty, knuckles considerably 
at every step he takes ; the relaxation of the tendo Achillis is 
somewhat more marked than in the other leg, where the muscular 
portion has been left intact, and by its union to the tendon is able 
to transmit to it some of its power. When turning round on the 
near leg, the one lately operated on. the action is more difficult than 
on the other, the leg being carried more in adduction. Still the 
standing is firm on both legs, and when in his stall the animal 
seems in perfect health as far as his legs are concerned. 
