DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 307 



pressed together by the contraction of the muscles to which thej' give 

 insertion until they so overlap as to correspond by certain points of 

 their circumference, the reduction is to be accomplished by effecting 

 the movements of extension, counteQ^-extension, and coaptation. Exten- 

 sion is accomplished by making traction upon the lower portion of the 

 limb. Counter-extension consists in firmly holding or confining the 

 upper or body portion in such a manner that it shall not be aft'ected 

 by the traction applied to the lower part. In other words, the oper- 

 ator, grasping the limb below the fracture, draws it down or away 

 from the trunk, while he seeks not to draw away, but simply to hold 

 still the upper portion until the broken ends of bone are brought to 

 their natural relative positions, when the coaptation, which is thus 

 effected, has only to be made permanent by the proper dressihgs to 

 perfect the reduction. 



In treating fractures in small animals the strength of the hand is 

 usually sufficient for the required manipulations. In the fracture of 

 the forearm of a dog, for example, while the upper segment is firmly 

 held by one hand the lower may be grasped by the other and the bone 

 itself made to serve the purpose of a lever to bring about the desired 

 coaptation. In such a case that is sufficient to overcome the muscular 

 contraction and correct the overlapping or other malposition of the 

 bones. If, however, the resistance can not be overcome in this mode, 

 the upper segment may be committed to an assistant for the manage- 

 ment of the counter extension, leaving to the operator the free use of 

 both hands for the further manipulation of the case. 



But if the reduction of fractures in small animals is an easy task, it 

 is far from being so when a large animal is the patient, whose mus- 

 cular force is largely greater than that of several men combined. In 

 such a case resort must be had not only to superior numbers for the 

 necessary force, but in many cases to mechanical aids. A reference 

 to the mode of proceeding in a case of fracture with displacement of 

 the forearm of a horse will illustrate the matter. The patient is first 

 to be carefully cast, on the uninjured side, with ropes, or a broad 

 leather strap about 18 feet long, passed under and around his body 

 and under the axilla of the fractured limb and secured at a point oppo- 

 site to the animal and toward his back. This will form the mechanical 

 means of counter-extension. Another rope will then be placed around 

 the inferior part of the leg below the point of fracture, with which to 

 produce extension, and this will sometimes be furnished with a block 

 and pulle3\s, in order to aug-ment the power when necessary; and there 

 is, in fact, alwa3'S an advantage in their use, on the side of steadiness 

 and uniformit}', as well as of increased power. It is secured around 

 the fetlock or the coronet, or, what is better, above the knee and 

 nearer the point o± fracture, and is committed to assistants. The trac- 

 tion on this should be firm, uniform, and slow, without relaxing or 



