SPECIAL INJURIES OF BOI^ES. 343 



of the lateral ligaments. We have had recoveries so as to be 

 very useful for farm work, by reducing the dislocation and fixing 

 with splints and bandages, but this cannot by any means be 

 calculated on. 



BLOWS ON THE INSIDE OF THE FETLOCK, CUTTING. 



Like cutting on the inner side of the knee, this arises from 

 blows received in action. Weak animals with turned-out toes 

 and distorted feet are most liable. It is to be treated by 

 soothing measures, and if the bones or joints become involved, 

 treat as advised for the respective injuries. 



To prevent, let the feet be kept a little bare on the innei 

 side, and the shoes slightly levelled off, but avoid lowering the 

 foot or thinning the shoe on the inner side. On the contrary, 

 a very slight thickening of the shoe on the inside is sometimes 

 beneficial, by straightening up the fetlock and removing it from 

 danger. If this fails wear a leather boot with a projecting rim, 

 or a simple woollen bandage. In weak subjects benefit is ofteiu 

 derived from bringing into a better condition of health. 



FRACTURES OF THE PASTERN BONES. 



These are exceedingly common in horses running on hard 

 ground or even on soft movable sand. They are of all degrees 

 of severity, from a simple split without separation of the broken 

 pieces, to a complete shattering of the bone into a dozen frag- 

 ments or more. Simple fractures are usually oblique, or even 

 vertical, the bone being split in two nearly equal lateral halves, 

 but transverse breaks are also seen. 



Symptoms. — In shattered specimens the case is easily made 

 out, and the victim should be destroyed at once. In cases of 

 detachment sufficient to allow grating when the bones are 

 moved (flexed and extended) there is as little difficulty. But 

 in cases of splitting without detachment, the parts being held 

 firmly together by the strong fibrous investments, the case is 



