33 



on the nature of the injury. Treatment is the same as for the 

 shoulder-blade. 



104. The Ulna. — The upper and posterior portion of this bone 

 forms the elbow, the point of which is occasionally fractured by a 

 kick, or from a fall. When this happens, the limb hangs down (dropped 

 elbow) and the knee joint bends forward as if all the muscles between 

 the back of the shoulder-blade and the elbow point were torn assunder ; 

 and recovery is very uncertain. Fracture of the first rib shows 

 similar symptoms. 



105. The Radius or Fore Arm, and the Cannon or Shank 



Bones of the fore and hind legs in the horse are most subject to 

 fractures, and are very difficult to treat, owing to the limb having to 

 hang pendulous. There is great pain, and the parts swell, generally 

 ending with mortification of the soft structures and death of the patient. 

 The most humane treatment, therefore, is to destroy the animal at the 

 outset. These bones in cattle, sheep, and dogs, however, generally 

 do well when splints and bandages, as already named, have been 

 properly applied. 



106. The Knee Joint. — Some of the small bones of this joint are at 

 times fractured by the animal being kicked, or by its coming in 

 contact with a stone wall, &c. Splints and bandages should be 

 applied, and long rest given, but the result is invariably a stiff joint. 



107. The Sesamoids, or lever bones, at the back of the fetlock 

 are occasionally fractured ; when this occurs the fetlock descends and 

 the toe sticks up. The Os SufTraginis, or lavge pastern hone, in the 

 fore leg, seems generally to be the most subject to fracture, being, at 

 times, broken into a number of pieces. The same thing occurs to the 

 Os Coronae or small pastern. Such cases, when the bone is not too 

 much smashed, make good recoveries when put under treatment, but 

 leave behind stiff joints. The Os Pedis, or Coffin hone, as well as 

 the Navicular Bone, are also occasionally fractured. These fractures 

 are generally caused by the horse galloping on a hard road, or on rough 

 uneven ground, or on hard sand. (For hones mentioned in paragraphs 92 

 to 107 reference should he made to Plates V., VI., and VII.) 



D 



