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is far from bein^ so when a large animal is the patient, whose mnscular 

 force is largely greater than that of several men combined, la such a 

 case resort must be had not only to superior numbers for the necessary 

 force, but in many cases to mechanical aids. A reference to the mode 

 of proceeding in a case of fracture with displacement of the fore arm of 

 a horse will illustrate the matter. The patient is first to bo carefully 

 cast, on the uninjured side, with ropes, or a broad leather strap about 

 18 feet long, passed under and around his body and under the axilla of 

 the fractured limb and secured at a point opposite to the animal and 

 toward his back. This will form the mechanical means of counter ex- 

 tension. Another rope will then be placed around the inferior part of 

 the leg below the point of fracture, with which to produce extension, 

 and this will sometimes be furnished with a block or puUies, in order 

 to augment the power when necessary, and there is, in fact, always an 

 advantage in their use, on the side of steadiness and uniformity, as well 

 as of increased power. It is secured around the fetlock or the coronet, 

 or what is better, above the knee and nearer the point of fracture, and 

 is committed to assistants. The traction on this should be firm, uni- 

 form, and slow, without relaxing or jerking, while the operator carefully 

 watches the process. If the bone is superficially situated he is able to 

 judge by the eye of any changes that may occur in the form or length 

 of the parts under traction, and discovering at the moment of its hap- 

 pening the restoration of symmetry in the disturbed region, he gently 

 but firmly manipulates the place until all appearance of severed con- 

 tinuity have vanished. Sometimes the fact and the instant of restora- 

 tion are indicated by a peculiar sound, or "click," as the ends of the 

 bone slip into contact, to await the next step of the restorative pro- 

 cedure. 



The process is the same when the bones are covered with thick mus- 

 cular masses, excepting that it is attended with greater difficulties, from 

 the fact that the finger must be substituted for the eye, and the taxis 

 must take the place of the sight, and the result naturally becomes more 

 uncertain. 



It frequently happens that perfect coaptation is prevented by the in- 

 terposition between the bony surfaces of substances, such as a small 

 fragment of detached bone or a clot of blood, and sometimes the extreme 

 obliquity of the fracture is the opposing cause, by permitting the bones 

 to slip out of place. These are difficulties which can not always be 

 overcome, even in small-sized animals, and still it is only when they are 

 mastered that a correct consolidation can be looked for. Yet without 

 it the continuity between the fragments will be by a deformed callus, 

 the union will leave a shortened, crooked or angular limb, and a disabled 

 animal. 



If timely assistance can be obtained, and the reduction accomplished 

 immediately after the occurrence of the accident, that is the best time 

 for it. But if it can not be attended to until inflammation has become 



