DISEASES OP DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 87 



injury ; he can perhaps get up on the fore legs, but not on the hind 

 ones ; there is paralysis. You move the hind leg, there is no resist- 

 ance ; prick him with a pin, there is no sensation. It is best to 

 recommend the destruction of the animal. In some cases there will 

 be great pain, in others but little. 



Injuries to the Lumbar Vertebra. — Anchylosis is very common, 

 both* in the transverse processes and bodies, and it may be due to an 

 ossific diathesis. Fracture occurs in the same manner and presents 

 the same symptoms as in the dorsal region. If fracture occurs to the 

 transverse processes, and the animal is kept quiet, reunion takes 

 place quickly, but a slight motion may prevent this, and produce a 

 fistula, and if you explore the sinus you will find a detached portion 

 of bone. 



Fractures of the Sacrum. — Most likely to occur in the transyerse 

 processes, where they are in connection with the sacrum, and usually 

 from some severe injury, violent exertion, or from falling violently. 



Symptoms are not very clear in all cases. If the fracture is bat 

 slight he may go tolerably well, but if severe there is great difficulty 

 in moving, and from the great weight the bones are brought down, 

 and you may locate by examination per rectum and having the limbs 

 moved. 



Treatment. — Just keep him quiet and allow nature to effect a cure. 

 (You can take the credit for it if you like). He may always be 

 slightly down in the hip, but may be able to do hard or even fast 

 work. If there are constitutional symptoms, use constitutional treat- 

 ment, fomentations, laxatives, febrifuges, etc. The superior spines of 

 the sacrum may be fractured ; it usually occurs from some heavy 

 body falling upon the parts. It is more likely to be met with in heavy 

 cart horses, from the cart falling upon them, or in railroading horses, 

 from something falling upon them. It may occur from running away. 

 It is likely to be followed by caries or necrosis, generally caries. A 

 portion of the bone is apt to become detached. If you have an 

 abscess which heals, forms again, etc., then sinuses form. There is 

 some cause for it. Cut down and remove the parts. This is some- 

 times difficult to do, as it may become necrosed deep down. The 

 anterior and superior spines of the pelvic bones are liable to fracture, 

 usually from the animal coming in contact with some hard body, as 

 running through a doorway. 



Fracture of the Pelvic Bones. — Fracture of the anterio- superior 

 spine, generally from direct injury, from falling violently upon the 

 ground, or from running through a doorway, or from running through 

 a stumpy field and striking against a stump. It does not often occur 

 from slipping. It does not interfere much with the horse's action. 

 Keep him quiet in a box. There is great difficulty in getting reunion 

 here. There is frequently a fibro-cartilaginous deposit forming a 

 reunion by what is known as false joint. It may be necessary to 

 remove a considerable portion of the bone, and is the only method of 

 saving the animal. The muscles will regain their natural condition 

 to a considerable extent ; but the animal will be down in the hip, 

 which is best detected by standing behind the animal. It is necessary 

 to watch for this in examining for soundness. The ilium may be 

 fractured right through the dorsum. It usually occurs from slipping 

 or falling, and, if severe it is easily diagnosed. Owing to the weight 

 of the muscles the haunch is pulled down. There will be well marked 

 crepitation, and if the bone is much shattered, and there is constitu- 

 tional disturbance, as fever, the pulse running up to one hundred or 



