OF FARRIERY. 



53 



CHAPTER II. 



FRACTURES. 



FRACTURES. 



Fractures mean a dwision of a bone into 

 two or more parts, or fragments. A simple 

 fracture is when the bone only is divided. A 

 componnd fracture is a division of the bone, 

 with a laceration of the integuments ; the bone 

 mostly protruding. A fracture is also termed 

 transverse, oblique, &c., according to its direc- 

 tion. 



When bones of the Horse are fractured, 

 there is so much trouble in keeping him quiet, 

 and in one position, for the process of union to 

 go on ; added to which, the doubt of being 

 of much use after, that it is generally deter- 

 mined on, that the horse shall be destroyed ; 

 though two cases have come under my notice, 

 which I will relate, when considering on frac- 

 ture of that specific bone. The fractures that 

 most generally occur are in the head, occa- 

 sioned by horses running violently against a 

 post, or bar; likewise the ribs, hip-bone, thigh- 

 bone ; and indeed all bones of the leg ; and 

 these from falls, or kicks from other Horses. 



FRACTURE OF THE HEAD. 



This is not a very common case ; but all 

 fractures are in general accidental ; this, like 

 all others, may at some time or other occur. 



I can best explain the nature of this kind of 

 fracture, by relating a case that occurred in 

 my practice, whilst I was in the army. I 

 must first describe to you the nature of the 

 stables, or lines, as they are called in India 

 (for it occurred when I was there) : they are 

 long ranges of buildings, which contain about 

 one hundred Horses each, all worked open, 

 except the pillars to support the roof, with a 

 wide avenue down the middle ; consequently 

 the Horses stand head to head, divided by the 

 avenue ; this middle space is for the men to 

 have access to their Horses. 



The Horses feed off the ground, and their 

 corn is given them in nose-bags ; they are 

 tied by the head to a wooden bar, which is 

 fixed into the pillars at the head ; their hind 

 legs are fastened by a long chain, to the end 

 of which is a ring and peg ; the peg is driven 

 into the ground about two or three yards out- 

 side the stable ; there is another wooden bar 

 about the height of the horse's head, fixed 

 into the pillars as the other : this is the ca- 

 valry stable of the Indian army. Now the 

 case I was going to relate was this : — at the 

 usual watering time of the Horses, in the after- 

 noon, about five o'clock, one of the Horses 

 broke loose out of the hands of the man who 







