522 THE DISEASES OF THE HORSE 



A BROKEN LOWER JAW is by no means uncommon as the result of a kick. 

 The best treatment is to set the fracture, and then mould some gutta-percha 

 to it, which may be confined behind by strips round the forehead and poll, 

 and before by a padded strap passed through the mouth between the nippers 

 and tushes, and beneath the tongue. The horse must be fed upon mashes 

 and steamed food. A special apparatus known as a face cradle has been 

 invented by INIr. Walker, Veterinary Surgeon, of Bradford, and is illus- 

 trated in Professor "VVilHams' work on veterinary surgery. 



In fractures of the spine and pelvis nothing can be done beyond rest 

 and lowering, if necessary, by physic. 



Broken ribs, when they cause inflammation of the lungs or liver by their 

 sharp ends pressing upon these organs, may be treated by buckling two or 

 three oi'dinary rollers abreast of one another tightly round the chest, so as 

 to prevent the natural dilatation of the thorax, which takes place in 

 inspiration, and which keeps up the irritation by constantly moving the 

 ends of the ribs. Tlie general means necessary to adopt to relieve the 

 internal mischief will depend upon its extent. 



When either the scapula, humerus, or femur is broken, all that can 

 be done is to sling the horse, and by bandages endeavour to bring the limb 

 into as natural a position as possible, and keep it there. There must of 

 necessity be great displacement of the ends of the bones, and these cannot 

 by any means be brought into apposition ; but the sides in contact with one 

 another, as they over-ride, will unite in course of time, and this is all that 

 can be achieved by the utmost efforts of the veterinary surgeon. 



Fractures of the lower part of the tibia, of the radius, of the cannon- 

 bones, if simple, must be treated by adjusting the ends (which is the chief 

 difficulty, and will often require strong extension to be employed), and then 

 adapting to the sides of the bones splints of wood, gutta-percha, plaster of 

 Paris, lead, or other flexible metal. 



If, by the aid of assistants, the parts can be brought into a good position, 

 these may be carefully adjusted to maintain it, and may be kept in place by 

 tapes or straps fastened moderately tightly around them. It is useless, 

 however, to attempt a minute description of the means to be employed, 

 which can hardly be understood without a demonstration. Many horses 

 have recovered a fair use of the limb by the application of splints, without 

 slinging, as they will take care to avoid resting on that foot in consequence 

 of the pain it gives ; but under the care of an accomplished veterinaiy 

 surgeon slings will afford the best chance of recovery. 



SPLIT PASTERNS 



In the adult horse the fracture most often treated with success is 

 that occurring in tlie long or short pastern (os suffraginis and os corona). 

 If broken transversely the case is not very hopeful, or if splintered into 

 numerous fragments as sometimes happens ; but in what is called a split 

 pastern, where the fracture occurs in the long axis of the bone, the prob- 

 abilities are in favour of recovery. There may result a considerable ring of 

 bone around the pastern, but much of it will be afterwards absorbed. 



Treatment consists in a cooling dose of aperient medicine and mechanical 



