48 VETERINARY LECTURES 



times gets broken ; but all such cases require the attention of the 

 qualified practitioner. 



91. Occipital Bone, at the back part of the head, is often 

 fractured by the horse falling back, and so is the atlas, or first 

 cervical vertebra. The injuries are generally followed by paralysis, 

 and the animal has to be destroyed. 



92. Cervical Vertebrae. — The oblique processes of these bones 

 are now and again fractured, mainly by the horse getting a hind- 

 foot shoe fixed in the head-collar on scratching its head. When 

 this takes place, the head turns round to one side, the nose nearly 

 touching the knee, and there is all the appearance of some of the 

 neck bones being dislocated. The head, when this occurs, should 

 be tied up short to the rack with a double-shanked halter, and the 

 part, supported by a stout pitch plaster, with wooden splints, and 

 cradle, put round the neck. The bones of the neck also occasionally 

 get smashed by the horse falling on its head. One case in particular 

 deserves mention : Lord of the Harem, when racing at Harras 

 Moor, Whitehaven, some years ago, fell and broke the third and 

 fourth neck bones. After falling, strange to say, it got up and walked 

 a quarter of a mile to a loose-box ; but immediately it got inside it laid 

 down, and never got up again. I saw it next day, in company with 

 two other professional men, when we ordered it to be destroyed, as 

 there was no mistake about its neck being broken. Greyhounds 

 also frequently come to grief in this fashion when coursing. 



93. Broken Back. — When this happens, the animal may rise 

 on to its fore-legs, but cannot get the hind ones up. To test it, stick 

 a pin into the hind limbs, and if it shows pain and can pull its legs 

 up to its belly, or kick out, there is some chance for the patient ; but 

 if no pain is evinced the case is hopeless. 



94. Haunch Hook, or hip-bone, is frequently broken or chipped, 

 and should be noticed particularly, specially when examining for 

 soundness. It may be caused by the horse tumbling down or by 

 going through a doorway, but it does not hinder the horse from 

 doing its work. The piece broken off may drop into the flesh below, 



