302 FEACTUEES. 



bone, the impression that it is surrounded by a hard, thick cover- 

 ing (the ensheathing material), which makes it of greater circum- 

 ference than the corresponding bone of the other leg. Besides, 

 the inequalities which can be felt on the surface of the sound leg, 

 at the back of the pastern, are absent on that of the injured leg. 

 At first, there is, above the fetlock, much sympathetic swelling, 

 which rapidly goes down. Although, when there has been little or 

 no displacement, the horse, as a rule, makes a good recovery for 

 slow work ; still, if used for fast paces, he will rarely regain his 

 former speed, on account of the fracture almost always extending 

 into one or both joints. Also, the ensheathing bony material is 

 very apt to interfere with the action of the ligaments and tendons, 

 especially during the extreme flexion and extension entailed on 

 the joints by the gallop. I have known a horse regain soundness 

 in six months after a vertical fracture of the long pastern bone 

 ■which split the bone, from front to rear, into two halves, but with- 

 out marked displacement. In this case I ascertained the nature 

 of the fracture by post-mortem examination of the animal, which 

 subsequently died from a cause (anthrax) altogether unconnected 

 with the injury to its pastern. Fig. 117 shows fracture of the 

 short pastern bone, with bony union of both joints. 



TREATMENT. — The animal should be placed in slings in order 

 to enable him to rest the fractured limb, and to prevent him from 

 injuring the sound one by throwing too much weight on it. The 

 shoe should be carefully removed, and sawdust put down, so that 

 the horse may obtain an easy position for his foot. Although cases 

 often do well when left alone and given complete rest, it is the 

 safer plan to support and fix the part by careful bandaging, which 

 may be done in the following manner: — At first, apply a cotton 

 bandage — about three fingers broad and four yards long — around 

 the pastern, taking care to spread a coating of a solution of 

 plaster of Paris over the surface of the bandage as each turn is 

 made, so as to render it immovable. A mass of tow soaked in the 

 plaster solution, should be placed so as to fill up the hollow behind 

 the pastern, and should be kept in position by another bandage, 

 over which a thick coating of plaster should also be applied. 

 After a quarter of an hour, the plaster will become hard and will 

 keep the part in a state of perfect rest. Care should be taken 

 that these bandages are not put on too tightly. " Charge " com- 

 position (p. 48) may replace plaster of Paris ; or we may apply a 

 cotton wadding bandage (p. 44). A month after the accident 

 stimulate the part once or twice with biniodide of mercury oint- 

 ment (1 to 8 of lard or vaseline), so as to hasten the process of 



