FOS TER-MO THERS — FRA C TURES 



the horses or removing the litter from under them. Sharp 

 points have caused many accidents to valuable horses. 



Foster-mothers. — Few mares take kindly to another's 

 foal, but there are authentic instances recorded of their doing 

 so. In the case of an orphan foal, or if a mare has not 

 sufficient milk for her own, it is worth while trying to 

 persuade one which may have lost her own foal, or has one 

 of less value at foot, to adopt the superior youngster. Her 

 own foal, if she has one, must be removed out of her sight 

 and hearing and kept away from her, and it will be necessary 

 for some one to be close at hand until she takes to the foster- 

 foal and allows it to suck, as otherwise she may injure it 

 very seriously. If some of her own milk is drawn off and 

 sprinkled over the strange foal's head, neck, and back, she 

 may be more readily induced to take to it. 



Founder. — See Laniinitis. 



Fractures. — As a rule it is a difficult matter to mend 

 the broken bones of horses, as they are very bad patients and 

 will often undo the results of many weeks' attention by their 

 restiveness when almost cured. Fractures are of four kinds — 

 namely, simple, when the bone is broken but the skin not 

 pierced ; compound, when the broken bone penetrates the 

 skin ; comminuted, when the bone is broken in several places, 

 as often occurs in cases of split pasterns ; and complicated, 

 when the fracture extends to the surrounding tissues. In 

 cases where a doubt exists as to whether the bone is actually 

 broken, the point can be settled by hearing the ends of the 

 fracture grating against each other, and then the fate of the 

 patient can be decided. 



Treatment. — Fractures are obviously matters which are 

 beyond the power of an amateur horse doctor to deal with, 

 and hence no time should be lost in procuring the best 

 professional assistance available. Meanwhile, the horse should 

 be placed in slings, with the knowledge that should it be 



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