IX] 



SURGICAL DISEASES AND CONFORMATION 



115 



462. In fractures of the pelvis (ossa inno- 

 minata) the horse must be slung for at least three 

 months. In fracture of the jaw (the lower jaw 

 being sometimes fractured owing to cruel use of 

 the bit) the jaw must be bandaged and kept as 

 still as possible. 



In fractures of the ribs, which will become 

 apparent by evidence of pain when the horse is 

 girthed up and should be discovered when he is 

 examined, as he should be after a fall, the best 

 cure is rest. The horse should be turned out to 

 pasture for a couple of months away from any- 

 thing that Hiijht cause him to gallop about. For 

 this reason he must not be turned out with colts. 



Fractured tail bones sometimes occur from 

 falls. The treatment is simple, and consists in 

 applying a leather guard for at least one month. 

 The guard must be laced up moderately tight, 

 but not so as to arrest circulation. 



Broken backs are sometimes caused by tying 

 the horse up short. Placing the horse in slings 

 would tend to separate the broken pieces of 

 vertebrcE because the slings will cause him to 

 roach his back. The point of the hip (external 

 tuberosity of the ilium) and the point of the but- 

 tock (tuberosity of ischium) are sometimes frac- 

 tured in falls ; the former may result from the 

 horse being rushed carelessly through a narrow 

 gateway or door. As a rule, nothing can be 

 done, and if the horse is turned out to pasture 

 for a couple of months the part will either unite 

 or remain permanently loose. This latter is not 

 uncommon and does not affect the horse in its 

 work. 



463. Dislocations. — Consist of displacement 

 of a bone, or bones, that form, or help to form, 

 a joint. The symptoms are pain and awkward 

 or lessened gait. The only dislocation which is 

 generally successfully treated (and fortunately 

 other dislocations are uncommon) is that of the 

 patella or small bone at the front of the stifle, 

 corresponding to our kneecap. Chloroform will 

 often have to be given to get relaxation of the 

 muscles before the bone can be placed back. 



Dislocation of Patella. — This generally slips 

 outwards, i.e. away from the body, and is quite 

 common with foals, who usually grow out of 

 the tendency, which is a sign of weakness. An 

 accident or a sudden wrench may cause the 

 patella to slip out. When it is out, the leg is 

 kept straight and the foot far back. The toe of 

 the foot and sometimes the front of the wall will 

 rest on the ground. The horse will be unable to 

 draw his foot forward. 



No time should be lost in treatment. If it is 

 left out the joint may become injured. If it can- 

 not be pushed back, the foot must be drawn for- 

 ward by an assistant with a rope and the patella 

 pushed into place. If it is difficult to replace, 

 the horse must be given chloroform to relax the 

 muscles. After replacing the patella, massage the 

 part for twenty minutes morning and night for 



one month, or it may be blistered, repeating once 

 or twice at intervals of two weeks. A stifle shoe 

 should be applied in cases where the patella slips 

 out repeatedly. 



464. Stable Vices. — Kicking. — The best way to 

 prevent a horse from kicking in the stable at 

 night is to hang a sack of straw tightly packed 

 from the ceiling, so that when the horse kicks he 

 will kick the sack and cause it to swing against 

 his hindquarters. Chain hobbles on the hind- 

 feet may cure in some cases. If a horse kicks 

 from ill-temper while in the stable, in harness, 

 or in the saddle, a man should stand at his 

 shoulder and strike him a good cut under the 

 girth while his quarters are in the air. He then 

 associates the pain with the kicking ; if he is 

 struck afterwards he may kick all the more. (See 

 Chapter III.) The moment he stops he must be 

 caressed and shown that he is doing right by 

 stopping. Horses often kick at a timid person 

 or at a rough man, but when handled by a good 

 horseman give it up altogether. Every attempt 

 should be made by the rider when in the saddle 

 to hold the horse's head up ; he should close his 

 legs, and speak to the horse directly he feels an 

 attempt to kick. In training a horse to harness, 

 a kicking strap should be used always as a pre- 

 caution, so that should the horse attempt to raise 

 his hindquarters, he will be checked from the 

 first, and knowing that he cannot do so will 

 probably not attempt it in future. But if, upon 

 first trying, he finds he can do it, he will have 

 learned something that he will not easily forget. 



465. Crib Biting.— This is a most objection- 

 able habit. It is a nervous affection, therefore a 

 crib biter should be isolated. He should be kept 

 in a stall or loose box, with no manger or other 

 article in it at which he can suck. He should be 

 fed in a manger that is removed directly he has 

 finished, the hay being put on the floor. Crib 

 biting leads to wind sucking and helps to destroy 

 the horse's digestion and keep him generally in 

 bad condition. When he sucks he inflates his 

 intestines with air, and is inclined to be subject 

 to colic. 



Treatment. — Place a two-inch strap fairly 

 tightly around the neck just behind the throat, 

 so that whenever he tries to wind suck, being 

 unable to swell his throat, he will find the strap 

 causes pain, and in most cases will cease to try. 

 This must not be tight enough to interfere with 

 his eating or breathing in any way. Idleness is 

 responsible for most crib biting. Horses turned 

 out to pasture usually return cured, but only 

 temporarily, as a rule. 



Snapping at one when approaching the horse 

 in its stall is an objectionable habit, and is often 

 caused by the continued practice of giving sugar. 

 The best cure is for the groom to approach the 

 horse, and while the latter turns round and 

 snaps, the former should thrust a hot grilled 

 meat chop into the horse's mouth. The horse 



