SECURING SOLIPEDS. 35 



instinctively abandons tlie effort to keep his feet, and assumes the 

 recumbent posture in order to avoid the shock of a heavy fall. 



H. Bouley recommends that the first movement in this final 

 step should be an attemj)t to back the horse, in order to move the 

 fore legs first, and then to bring the hind legs forward, if the base 

 of support is stni too broad. The twitch should now be removed ; 

 in fact, the most prudent plan would be to remove it the moment 

 the hobbles are in place 



The final step of the act of Hteral throwing or casting being 

 accomplished, the last indication remaining to be fulfilled is to 

 secure the patient in the most favorable i:)Osition for the surgeon 

 to perform the important work of which all that has been iinder- 

 taken has been but preliminary. It is properly the permanent 

 (for the time being) adjustment of the body in such a manner as 

 to allow the surgeon the best possible access for all his manipula- 

 tions to the region which is to be the seat of his dissections 

 and other operative movements, without any unsteadiness or 

 opposition. 



Bouley's directions for this purpose are that the operator, 

 watching for the right moment, as the horse begins to totter, 

 gives orders to the assistants having charge of the ropes acting 

 on the body, the tail and the head, by a prompt and simultaneous 

 action, to pull in the direction of the side on which the animal is 

 to lie, and to those at the casting rope to pull firmly but not 

 harshly in the opposite direction, while he himself pushes the 

 body of the animal towards the bed. By this arrangement of 

 opposing tractions the casting is easily efi'ected ; but unless the 

 assistants act in perfect concert, and especially if the casting rope 

 be draT\Ti too rapidly and suddenly, the animal will be raised from 

 the ground with a sudden lift, to fall so heavily on the bed as to 

 possibly subject him to the risk of sustaining severe injuries. 



Bouley remarks on this point: "An animal is properly cast 

 only when, bending his knees, he lies down softly and easily on 

 his side, bringing to the ground successively the shoulder, the 

 ribs and the hind quarters; or again when, the fall beginning 

 from behind, the order is exactly reversed." 



Once down, the forcible traction upon the chain brings the 

 four legs in close proximity, the spring hooks or padlock passing 

 through the link nearest to the ring of the hobble through which 

 the chain passes, coming out last. To provide against the possi- 



