FRACTUEES OF THE FACIAL BOXES. 95 



straps, &c., to secure it in its place. If straps are used, tliey 

 may be placed as follows : — One may pass from a little below 

 the supero-posterior angles ronnd the back part of the horse's 

 head, behind the ears ; a second, from the iipper borders of the 

 cradle, a little in front of the snpero-posterior angles. This 

 should pass across the brow, in front of the ears. A third, a 

 small strap, may pass from one of the two straps to the other, 

 between the ears. A fourth may proceed from the middle of 

 the upper borders of the cradle, across the front of the face, a 

 little below the orbits ; and a fifth may pass across the nasal 

 bones, sufficiently above the nostrils, not to interfere with the 

 horse's breathing. The two last-named straps should be partly 

 elastic, the last one more so than the other, so as to allow the 

 horse to open his mouth to a slight extent. 



" Should the fracture be compound, some holes will be required 

 in the cradle opposite to tlie seat of the injury. Perforations 

 of this kind can be made after the cradle is manufactured. 



" As horses' heads vary both in size and form, it is not to be 

 expected, even though a practitioner has two or three of these 

 cradles on hand, that any one of them will fit the parts with 

 that exactness he could wish. The inequalities, therefore, must, 

 as before stated, be filled with a padding of tow, or some other 

 agent, in addition to that which should, on all occasions, be 

 used as a lining to the inner surface of a cradle or splint, 



" lie who is called upon to treat a case of fracture of the lower 

 jaw of a horse must not despair if he does not possess any other 

 splints than those he is obliged to make at the time. The 

 principal object, after the ends of the broken bone are brougkt 

 in apposition, is to retain them there until they are united ; and 

 the practitioner should endeavour to accomplish this with as 

 little inconvenience to the horse as possible." 



The method recommended by Professor Varnell seems com- 

 plicated, but coming from such a source, it deserves every 

 respect. Mr. Walker, V.S., Bradford, has designed a cradle, 

 which has answered the purpose very M^ell in at least two 

 cases, where the fractures were posterior to the tushes, and in- 

 volving both rami. He has kindly sent the following drawings 

 of it. — {See Engravings.) 



The tendency of the fractured ends to fall inwards is the 

 only real obstacle we have to contend with ; so if we can by 



