ACCIDENTS CONNECTED WITH RESTRAINT. 143 



of the accident. Frequently the neck is bent so much to one 

 side, and so severely twisted, that weeks must elapse before 

 the horse is able to move it freely, and sometimes it remains 

 permanently distorted, the head being carried awry. The 

 neck has been completely broken in this way, and after the 

 horse was liberated, it was discovered that he could not move 

 a limb, nor make the least motion of any kind, with the ex- 

 ception of breathing, swallowing, and a few movements of the 

 ears, eyes, and mouth. The remainder of the body was quite 

 powerless, and the horse died through the course of the day. 

 This fatal result is not common. 



When the horse lies long he is always a good deal bruised 

 and very stiff, unable to get up without assistance. Some- 

 times the back is injured so as to produce partial palsy of the 

 hind-legs. When the horse happens to fall upon the leg that 

 is drawn up, his head is below him, and if not immediately 

 relieved, he is soon suffocated. 



In the most of cases this accident may be prevented. All 

 that is necessary is to keep the halter-rein clear of the feet. 

 It should not be needlessly long; it should always be loaded 

 with a sinker, and the ring, through which it runs should be 

 at the proper height. Two reins prevent the horse from get- 

 ting his head too far round on either side. As greater securi- 

 ty, the rein may be made to pass behind the manger, and in 

 that case one rein is sufficient. (See Fig. 2, page 26.) 

 When the manger is low and the rack high, the rein must be 

 long, and can not be kept tense, for the sinker can not descend 

 far enough. The manger should be raised, or the reinring 

 placed higher, by some other contrivance. 



Treatment of Stall-cast Horses. — The first thing to be done 

 is to liberate the head by cutting the rope, or the halter, if the 

 horse be bound by a chain. Place him in a favorable position, 

 and urge him to rise. iVfter a horse has lain long in con- 

 straint, it is often difficult to get him up. Sometimes he is 

 perfectly unable to rise. His limbs are benumbed; they are, 

 I suppose, in much the same state as our own when we say 

 they are asleep. The horse must have some assistance. 

 Let one stout fellow support the head, another the shoulder, 

 and place two at the tail, by seizing which they may lift the 

 hind-quarters. Draw the fore-legs out, but not too much ; the 

 horse rises head first. See that all hands be ready to give 

 their aid at the moment the horse makes an effort to rise, and 

 to this he may be urged by the lash. When on his legs, 

 Steady him for a minute or two ; encourage him to urinate. 



