62 



Journal of Agriculture. 



[8 Jan., 1908. 



The only word that the author is inclined to say as to the use of slings 

 in fractures is that in his experience it has not been an advantage or suc- 

 cess. Slinging tends to increase that which it is of prime importance to 

 avoid, viz. : — Irritability and fidgeting, and the almost certain formation of 

 bed sores becomes more than a mere annoyance. 



In limb fractures in horses it is a necessary precaution to remove the 

 shoe of the opposite foot and to pare the wall so as to give frog pressure ; 

 otherwise an attack of laminitis in that foot may be expected on account 

 of it having to bear the whole of the weight. Some matting or other soft 

 material ought also to be provided for the weight-bearing foot to stand 

 upon. 



Frequent Fractures. 



F"racture of the base of the Skull. — Thi.s is usually an example of 

 fracture by indirect violence described at page 58 {(j-v.). It is generally 

 suddenlv fatal. 



Broken Neck usuallv occurs as a result of a fall or " somersault " 

 when jumping. If the fracture occurs in the upper part of the neck it is 

 almost instantly fatal, death resulting from respiratory paralysis on account 

 of the pressure of the broken bone on the spinal cord above the origin of 

 the phrenic nerve which controls the respiratory muscles. (See Fig. 7.) 



Fig. 7. IJroken neck with displacement in the region of the third cervical vertebra. 



(After Dollar.) 



Broken Back. — By this is meant fracture of one of the spinal bones 

 (vertebrae) in the region of the back or loin. The fracture may occur 

 either with or without displacement. In the latter case, occurring after 

 an accident no suspicion may be aroused for a time, until, in fact, displace- 

 ment occurs through sudden movement or wrench as when getting up or 

 Iving down. Broken back occurs under similar circumstances as broken 

 neck, but another fertile source especially in horses with fragile bones is 

 the practice of tightly raping animals when cast for operations. The 

 muscular force exerted by hor.ses when struggling under such circumstances 

 is \ery great, and it often happens to be sufficient to break the back ; for, 

 when the limbs are tied bv a rope round the back the bones of the back will 

 gi\e way before the rope. 



The diagnosis of broken back is not always easy. There is usually 

 paralysis behind and also insensibility to pain produced with a pin or pen- 

 knife. Usually also the animal is incapable of moving the tail. Except 



