RUSSIAN METHOD OF CASTING. 



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piece of apparatus is used for this purpose. The method is as follows: — 

 One or two assistants grasp the horse's tail and lift the hind quarters 

 far enough from the ground to allow a leather band, about eight to ten 

 inches wide, to be slipped under. The ends of the band carry broad 

 iron rings. Through these and around the cannon bones of the hind 

 limbs broad pieces of webbing are passed, securing the hind limbs in 

 place. The cannon bones must be pressed downwards into a horizontal 

 position, whilst the parts are being fixed (Fig. 59). (Note. — In this 

 figure the assistants on the left side of the animal are not represented, 

 and the horse is purposely shown lying a little obliquely, in order 

 that the mode of fixation may be clearer). The operation finished, 





Fig. 57. — Fastening the lower hind to the upper fore-limb preparatory to 

 neurectomy, firing, etc. This figure also shows the "leg twitch !4 

 applied. 



the broad leather strap passed beneath the animal is first removed ; the 

 horse is then laid on his side, the limbs are released, the upper being 

 last of all freed from hobbles. Fig. 60 shows another method of 

 fixing a horse for operation as employed in the Berlin veterinary 

 school. 



The Russian method of casting (Figs. 61 — 63) permits of a man 

 throwing a horse single-handed. In books the position of the 

 operator's hands is usually incorrect. With small horses the method 

 succeeds very well, though requiring some courage. The operator 

 stands close to that side of the horse on which it is intended to fall, 



