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PARTICULAR DISLOCATIONS. 



On this subject veterinary surgery is more backward than it seems to 

 be with respect to fractures ; and this may serve to account for the 

 paucity of our remedial means. 



Dislocation of the Spine. — Dove-tailed and cemented together as 

 these bones are, it seems next to impossible for dislocation to happen with- 

 out fracture. As the vertebral canal depends on the vertebrae, any dis- 

 placement must endanger compression of the spinal marrow; this would 

 cause paralysis posterior to the seat of injury. Nothing but violence 

 should occasion such an accident. Several cases of this description are 

 on record : but the absence of paralysis, and the apparent ease with 

 which the animals recovered, are circumstances that induce a doubt with 

 regard to the nature of them. Most of the dislocations have occurred 

 in the neck : and a common cause is the horse getting the head under 

 the rope by which it is tied up, and violently struggling to disentangle 

 itself Or it may twist the neck by the hind quarters getting under- 

 neath the manger. It frequently happens that an animal in this predica- 

 ment is in the morning found dead, probably having fractured and dislo- 

 cated some of the vertebrae, or else strangled itself The following 

 interesting case occurred to Mr. Spooner, of Blandford : he was sent 

 for to attend a cart mare that had " entangled her head under the 

 manger ; in attempts to extricate the body, the animal had got the head 

 under, and dislocated the neck. It presented a very dreadful appear- 

 ance, the neck being bent in the form of an arch. The head was hang- 

 ing down almost to the ground, from which the mare could only raise it 

 a few inches. On making the animal walk, it moved round in a circular 

 direction, corresponding to the shape of the neck. The convex side of 

 the neck was much injured. On moving the neck in a lateral direction, 

 the fulcrum of motion appeared to be between the fifth and sixth verte- 

 brae, pointing out the seat of injury." Mr. Spooner viewed the case as 

 hopeless ; but, with the consent of the owner, was willing to try what 

 could be done. He bled and physicked the animal, and bound deal splints 

 upon the neck. The fever ran high. The head swelled considerably ; 

 which was relieved by lancet punctures. On the eighth day, the mare 

 appeared better, and was turned out. It managed to eat grass, and 

 from this time gradually improved. In five or six weeks it could walk 

 straight, and the neck had recovered much of its natural shape. A month 

 after it was put to work. The neck gradually righted. 



Dislocation of the Shoulder. — This accident is a rare occurrence. 

 Hurtrel d'Arboval relates that a horse drawing a cart heavily laden, fell 

 with great violence, and dislocated the humerus. It was immediately de- 



