PARTICULAR FRACTURES. 251 



force that would otherwise separate them, now only tends to strengthen 

 their union. In some cases we are forced to have recourse to a sort of 

 windlass to assist us in extending the limb. We require four splints in this 

 case, one for each surface ; and they ought to extend from the foot to 

 above the knee or hock, Girard uses splints of different lengths, allow- 

 ing the longest of them to project beyond the foot, for the animal to bear 

 his weight upon : this being fixed to the parts above, the weight becomes 

 transferred to those parts, while all motion is prevented in the region 

 below. Ingenious as this contrivance is, unfortunately it is applicable 

 only to horses that are very tractable. D'Arboval conceives this 

 apparatus might be improved by letting the splints terminate in a patten- 

 shoe : it need not descend further than half an inch below the foot. 

 Two foals, after having their legs properly set and bound up, were 

 kept standing up in stalls for about ten days. In both, the fractures 

 united : one becoming quite sound again. 



I know some old practitioners who treat these cases in a very success- 

 ful manner. They employ such common support with splints, tow, and 

 bandages, as the case seems to require ; then the animal is turned out, or 

 into a yard. Special care Avill be taken not to impose weight upon 

 the fractured member ; and, provided the parts are well secured, nature 

 performs the rest. 



Fractured Pastern. — Short as the bone is, fracture nevertheless 

 happens when the horse makes a false step, or when the foot becomes 

 locked in a wheel-rut, and the animal exerts force to extricate it. The 

 diagnosis of fractured pastern is easy. The horse bears no weight upon 

 the limb ; if urged to walk, the fetlock bends, and the toe turns up. 

 Take up the foot, move it, and crepitation becomes distinct. These 

 fractures are not free from danger ; should the separation be longitudinal, 

 it will extend into the joints above and below, and be followed by anchy-. 

 losis, ITevertheless, this is a fracture most readily reduced. There are 

 many cases recorded of recovery from fractures of this and the coronary 

 bone. A bandage, dipped in some adhesive mixture, is to be applied 

 from the coronet to the middle of the cannon. Upon this wet paste- 

 board is to be moulded, the whole being covered with a linen bandage. 

 Four small splints are now to be laid on, one upon each side : filling up 

 the hollow places with tow, and afterwards binding them on with broad 

 tape. All this occasionally proves insufficient to arrest the play of the 

 joints ; therefore we are forced to place four additional splints over these. 

 We must do our utmost to prevent the horse bearing upon the affected 

 limb ; it will also prove disadvantageous should the limb be flexed all the 

 while ; for that will produce shortening of the flexor tendons, and con- 

 sequent knuckling. Lameness sometimes continues long after recovery ; 

 it may turn out permanent. 



