A clinical and experimental study of tendon injury, healing and treatment in the horse.

This project was carried out over a five year period (1977 to 1981 inclusive) at the University of Bristol following discussion between the British Veterinary Association and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons about the efficacy of, and ethical justification for, the practice of 'firing' (cautery). These discussions had been promoted by parliamentary questions but led to no firm conclusions because previously reported clinical investigations on specific treatments lacked adequate comparisons and controls and thus did not provide scientifically acceptable, statistically valid data. The project was originally conceived as having two main sections, one clinical and the other experimental. The Veterinary Advisory Committee of the Horserace Betting Levy Board felt that primary attention should be given to the clinical investigation and this was done.