-328 — 



whole position of the leg being got at, apply a good coating of tar 

 to the leg, around, above, and below the point of fracture. Then 

 wrap the whole leg in oakum, coarse tow, or carded cotton. Over 

 this, place broad pieces of boards, like shingles, on the sides and 

 front of the leg, and fill all unevenness with the tow or cotton, so 

 the splint or boards will lay flat on the leg. Secure the whole by 

 careful tying with broad strings or soft cords. The great secret in 

 the successful treatment of simple fractures of the bones of the legs, 

 is the fixing of the leg, so it cannot move until they have united. 

 Feed the horse well, and see every day that the splints on the legs 

 are not loose. Never sling a horse from his feet in cases of fracture, 

 for it will be regretted. If the horse is to be kept in a stall, make 

 a hole in the floor of the stall, underneath the foot of the broken 

 leg, so that he can stand with the leg at full length. Bear in mind, 

 no horse will put his foot to the ground until he is able to do so ; 

 therefore, leave everything to the broken legged, except the matter 

 of securing the broken bones in their place. And by giving him 

 his feed, he may be safely left to himself, and nature will do the 

 rest for him. 



Fracture of the Hip or Pelvis. — Symptoms. The horse is 

 extremely down in one of the hips, with a peculiar loose motion 

 of the hind leg, almost giving way every step the horse makes. 

 There is no disease this can be mistaken for in the hind leg or hip. 

 This fracture is produced in a moment ; and even whilst the horse 

 is trotting, he will stop all at once as if he were shot. Fracture 

 of the hip, I say hip — so that the unprofessional reader will better 

 understand — but it is the bone of the pelvis. The mere name will 

 not amount to much, for the treatment is : Let it alone, and it will 

 get well in three months of itself without any interference from 

 medicine or art. Turn the horse out for a few months, either in 

 pasture or in the barn-yard, and give him plenty to eat. 



Fracture of the ribs will require no treatment, except it may be 

 a few days' rest. Sometimes a swelling may be seen on the side 

 of a horse having a broken rib, in a few days after the accident. 

 It may form an abscess ; if so, have it opened to let out the mat- 

 ter ; and if it should not become soft and hold matter, let it alone, 

 as it will do little harm ; or, make the application for a few times, 



