34 



RUSSl \N MKTHol.) OF CASTING. 



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 hand, about eight to ten inches wide, to he slipped under. 

 The ends of the band cany broad iron rings. Through these and 

 around the cannon bones of the hind limbs broad pieces of webbing 

 arc 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. 57). (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 lie clearer.) The operation finished, the broad leather 



Fig. 55. — Fastening the lower hind to the upper fore-limb preparatory 

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

 applied. 



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. 58 shows another method of fixing a horse 

 for operation as employed in the Berlin veterinary school. 



The Russian method of casting (Figs. 59-61) 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 sonic courage. The operator 

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

 and at the first trial this seems dangerous. Bayer, in referring to the 

 operation, states that on one occasion he actually fell under the 



