BONES 49 



but very rarely it brings on bad effects. Sometimes, however, it 

 forms an abscess, which has to be cut down upon, and the piece or 

 pieces of detached bone removed. This lesion is of more frequent 

 occurrence in cattle than in horses. 



95. Ilium. — When the shaft of this bone is broken, the horse has 

 a peculiar way of walking ; on putting one hand on the point of the 

 haunch and the other on the rump bone, and getting some one to stir 

 the leg, you will both hear and feel the ends of the bones crunching 

 underneath. Long rest and support with pitch charges are required. 



96. Pelvic Bones. — I have seen the floor -(symphysis pubis) 

 of the pelvic cavity fractured by a fall down a stone quarry, and when 

 the animal (a cow) attempted to stand the legs spread apart. It was 

 put in slings, had its hocks buckled together, and made a good re- 

 covery in about seven or eight weeks. Horses should also be put 

 into slings, and have the legs tied together at the hocks. When such 

 an accident happens to a fat cow or ox, it should be sent to the 

 butcher. 



97. Ischium, or rump bone, is now and again fractured in the 

 horse. This may be caused by the animal falling over backwards, 

 and occurs more particularly in a young horse, when first tied up, 

 breaking its halter and rearing, or from a slip when backing. It is 

 not of much consequence ; only the side injured is more flattened than 

 the undamaged one. This should be carefully noticed in examination 

 for soundness. It is best seen by viewing the animal sideways. 



98. Femur is at times fractured at the top or neck, and also in 

 the shaft. It rnay be due to a fall, or it may occur when a horse 

 has been cast and tied for some operation, as in castrating. On 

 account of the quantity of flesh surrounding the bone, little or 

 nothing can be done ; the animal has to be destroyed. I remember 

 one case — a valuable carriage horse — where the inner condyle of the 

 lower articulation of the femur was broken off, and the patella, or 

 cap of the stifle, was split at the same time ; it was a compound 

 comminuted fracture. The horse was put into slings, but its suffer- 

 ings were so great that it was shot. 



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