The horse, after having the tendon divided, is said to be as strong as ever. The author would, however, object to such an animal being put into the shafts with even a light load behind it, or to its being again used for saddle purposes. The animal, though forbidden these uses, has still a large field of service open to it.
This operation is alike effectual and humane. That the last assertion may not appear based upon a single opinion, the author presents the reader with an engraving taken from a park near Lewes. That animal seemed to have all four limbs contracted, or the hind limbs were flexed and much advanced, to take the weight off the fore members. A foal ran by the side of the creature thus crippled; though it would be supposed no sane person would select such a dam to breed from.
Now had this mare been operated upon, slight pain would have been inflicted. Tendon, unless in a state of inflammation, has no sensation. Relief would have been afforded for the remainder of the life, and though, from her make and shape, the animal might never have held a high station among her breed, still, with straight legs she must have been worth as much for work as with bent limbs she could be valuable for stock purposes.
LAYING OPEN THE SINUSES OF A QUITTOR.
Give no opening medicine to any horse previous to this operation. Every member of the equine race is more likely to be too low from excess of work, than in any degree inflammatory from over-indulgence. Therefore, discard the general practice of preparing the horse with a dose of compound aloes. If the bowels are costive, get them open. But before employing the drastic drug, try what bran mashes and green-meat can effect. The entire strength will be needed to repair the injuries effected with the knife.
Give tonics and high feeding where the symptoms declare the body to be enervated. It is at all times better to operate upon a system having a superabundance of vital energy than upon one in which the powers are at all tardy. Collapse is the greatest enemy the surgeon has to dread. It is true, animals do not, like men, often "shut up" or die while under the operator; but frequently the most skillful surgery is defeated by the horse, after it has been released from the hobbles, never thriving. There may be no disease to be detected; but the body seems to want the strength requisite for recovery. To make this apparent to the reader—two gentlemen shall each perform neurotomy. One shall bungle, yet his patient shall do well. The wounds shall heal by the first intention, and the horse in a fortnight be again delighting its owner. The other shall display the perfection of scientific attainment; yet the horse shall never thrive. The wounds shall ulcerate, and the animal either gnaw the foot or cast the hoof. How can such differences be accounted for but by believing the horse is subject to a peculiar species of chronic collapse?
Rasp the quarter of the horse's foot which has quittor, until the soft, light-colored horn of the laminæ is exposed. Then let the hair be cut off around the opening on the coronet, and the foot be carefully cleansed. Afterward throw the horse. Release the quittored leg from the hobbles, and with a steel director probe each sinus. So soon as the instrument is well in, take a sharp-pointed knife and run it carefully down the groove of the director. Then ascertain, with a grooved probe, whether the sinus decreased in diameter, or whether the whole extent of the pipe be laid open. If the smallest portion remains, to which the knife has not reached, use the groove of the probe as a director, and slit it up. Do this to as many sinuses as may exist.
Next place in each sinus a small piece of tow. These pieces of tow should be already divided into short and thin skeins. They should be saturated with chloride of zinc dissolved in spirits of wine, one scruple to the ounce. Put one of these into each sinus, and let the horse up. In three days such of the pieces of tow as have not been removed by the sloughing process may be taken from the wounds, and the foot simply dressed with chloride of zinc and water, one grain to the ounce, squeezed from a sponge, as in the case of open joint.