C HAP. LXX. Of Hurts in the Stifle. 227 



This is the propereft Method for all Fra6tures in the 

 Legs and Pafterns ; but in Cafes where other Bones are 

 broke, the greateft Part mult be left to Nature, who will 

 make a Re-union in her own Way, tho' it may not be 

 without fome Deformity ; but we can expedl no great Af- 

 liflance either from Art or Nature, when a Frafture hap- 

 pens on any large Joint, or very near it ; or when a Bone 

 is much fhiver'd and fplinterM. 



The ufual Method to reduce Bones that The Method of 

 are difplac'd, is by calling the Horfe on a reducing Boms 

 foft Place, and putting four llrong Pafterns ^-^t of Joint. 

 on his Feet, drawing him from the Ground, fo as his whol^ 

 Weight may, in a great Meafure, reft upon the disjointed 

 Member. I have feen two Horfes ferv'd in this Manner 

 for a Diflocation in the Shoulder, but neither of them fuc- 

 ceeded. Some ufe a Method that is much more cruel ; 

 they tie one End of a leathern Thong about the Horfe's 

 Pattern, and the other to a yielding Shrub ; and then by 

 whippirig him, make him ftrain with all his Force, till the 

 Bone returns to its proper Place ; but this Method is not 

 only dangerous, but feldom fuccefsful. 



CHAP. LXX. 

 Of Hurts in the Stifle. 



^■pHESE, as moll other Accidents of this Kind, come 

 ■*■ by a Strain or Blow on the Stifle-bone, which is the 

 Knee-pan of a Horfe ; fometimes the Ligaments which co- 

 ver that Bone are fo much relaxed, that it becomes loofe, 

 moving upwards, and downwards, and Sideways, by the 

 Touch of your Hand ; and the Horfe going downright 

 lame, is faid to be fiifled ; but it is a general Miltake in 

 Authors, to fancy the Bone is mifplaced, that being merely 

 impollible, unlefs the broad Ligaments were cut, and then, 

 indeed, it might burft out of its Place. 



The Cure conlifts in the Application of The Cure. 

 thofe things that are proper to ftrengthen 

 the relaxed Ligaments. If the Strain be new. Vinegar and 

 Bole, ^c. ought to be made ufe of; and after that a Plaifter 

 made of Pitch, Myrrh, Olibanum, Dragon's Blood, ^V. 

 The Pitch muft be melted with a little Oil, or Hogs-lard, 

 and the other Ingredients made into Powder, and llirred 

 into it while it is warm ; after v/hich it may be poured up- 

 on the ftiliing Place, covering it with Flokes, or the Stuf- 

 fings of an old Saddle. The Horfe ouditnot to be put 



Z 2 ' ^ to 



