502 VETERINARY SURGICAL OPERATIONS 



ability of the patient to rise unassisted from decumbency 

 after the use of the slings has been discontinued. 



Treatment of Pelvic Fractures. In all the uncomplicated 

 cases (fistulse, visceral injury, etc.) the treatment is similar. 

 The patient is placed in slings from two weeks in the less 

 serious cases to six weeks to three months in the more 

 serious ones. Decumbency, even for a few minutes, is al- 

 ways harmful, because of the injury inflicted to the soft 

 tissues by the movements of the jagged segments, incident 

 to rising. Often the suffering patient will refuse to rise un- 

 assisted after the first attempt and not infrequently, es- 

 pecially in pubic and ischial fractures, it refuses to' remain 

 standing, even after having been raised with the slings. 



In addition to the slings, succulent feeds and laxatives are 

 essential to the best results. Coprostasis of the floating 

 colon and rectum which is prone to occur on account of the 

 pain produced by defecation is prevented by occasional ene- 

 mata, and dysuria is met by catheterization. 



External applications are useless, although if properly 

 continued for some hours daily, steaming hot blankets ap- 

 plied over the affected parts should be helpful in reducing the 

 amount of pain. Liniments and blisters only add to the pa- 

 tient's discomfort. 



When it is thought prudent to dispense with the slings 

 the patient is given the freedom of a large loose box where 

 there is ample room to "give a lift" if found necessary. 



Rupture of the Tendinous Portion of the 

 Flexor Metatarsi. 



This injury has often been erroneously described under 

 the name of "sprain of the flexor metatarsi," in spite of the 

 fact that the tendinous portion of this complicated muscle 

 is not only sprained but actually torn completely in' twain. 

 The injury may be sustained by any accident that will bring 

 traction upon the anterior tibial group of muscles by an ex- 

 cessive sudden extension of the hock. Falling suddenly with 

 one hind leg extending backward and falling in the shafts 

 after having kicked over the cross-bar with one leg are the 

 two chief accidents which result in this injury. The author has 

 seen one horse so injured by the slipping backward of the 

 leg supporting the weight while secured in the standing 

 position with the single sideline for firing, and two cases 

 from pulling frantically upon the uppermost hind leg while 

 secured upon the operating table. 



As soon as the accident occurs a most remarkable phe- 



