DISLOCATIONS.] 



THE HOESE, A,ND 



[dislocations. 



of him at five pounds. The veterinary surgeon 

 who treated the last case, bought him at that 

 price, vrith a further stipulation that he should 

 have stable-room, and a man to look after him 

 for a month.. Within that period the horse 

 was removed to his owner's stable, whence 

 he was turned out for another month. By 

 this time he had become perfectly upright, 

 and was sold for twenty-five pounds. During 

 the month the horse remained with the gentle- 

 man of whom he was purchased, he underwent 

 the same treatment as described in the other 

 case. 



FRACTURES OF THE PASTERN BONE, THE 

 COFFIN-BONE, AND NAVICULAR BONE. 



There is no remedy for these. "When the 

 fracture is in the lower pastern, and of neither 

 a compound nor a complicated nature, it may 

 be reduced by proper bandaging ; and this has 

 sometimes been the case. When it is in the 

 upper pastern, it is easily discovered, and is 

 often the result of a violent efibrt made by the 

 horse to prevent himself from actually falling 

 when he has made a stumble. In treating for 



it, if it runs laterally across the bone, a band- 

 age steeped in some adhesive matter is applied 

 from the coronet to the middle of the leg. 

 Over this some damp or wet pasteboard should 

 be moulded, and afterwards enveloped in a 

 linen bandage.^ A small spleut should next be 

 applied, before and behind, on each side, and 

 the hollow places filled with tow, with the view 

 of giving them an equal bearing. Should this 

 not be sufficient to insure security, other 

 splents, thicker and broader, should be placed 

 over those, extending to the knee or the hock. 

 In reference to the coffin-bone, Mr. Percivall 

 says — " Buried as the coffin-bone and navicular 

 bones are within the hoof, and out of the way 

 of all external injury, as well as of muscular 

 force, fracture of them cannot proceed from 

 ordinary causes." Erom whatever causes these 

 fractures are produced, however, " Let your 

 remedies," says Mr. Mayer, "be governed by 

 those principles of science, those dictates of 

 humanity, and that sound discretion which, 

 while they raise the moral and intellectual 

 superiority of man, distinguish the master of 

 his profession from the bungling empiric." 



CHAPTER XII, 



DISLOCATIOIS'S. — THE STIFLE-BONE; SESAMOID BONES. 



THE STIFLE-BONE. 

 Dislocation of the stifle-bone frequently 

 happens from kicks and slips out of the hind 

 leg, so that the boce becomes thrown out of 

 its socket. When this happens, the limb be- 

 comes totally helpless, and the horse draws it 

 after him in the most distressing manner. 



The treatment is to extend the limb forward, 

 and fasten it in the same manner as described 

 for fracture of the tibia. Having done this, 

 place one hand against the bone, and press 

 moderately from you with tlie other ; then 

 take hold of the point of the hock, and you 

 will feel the stifle-bone snap into its place or 

 socket. A re-occurrence of this accident can 

 184 



only be prevented by using counter-irritants 

 all round the joint. Eor these take 



01 Terebinth 3 oz. 



01 Oliva; .0 3 do. 



Apply three or four table-spoonfuls to the 

 stifle, all round the joint, morning and niglit. 

 This will create considerable swelling; and by 

 so doing, keep the stifle-bone in its socket. 

 Should this not be found sufficiently powerful 

 to retain the bone in its place, take 



Cantharides 1 oz. 



01 Terebinth 4 do. 



Shake well together when used. 

 This will occasion a considerable swelling, but 

 will Jiave the desired effect. 



