30 MEANS OP EESTBAINT. 



UteraUy designatmg the act of violently casting down, as in a 

 wrestling match. On the contrary, it must be qualified as refer- 

 ring to a method of so manipulating the patient and directing his 

 movements as to brmg about a change of posture with aU the 

 appearances of a voluntary act on his part, which indeed it essen- 

 tially becomes. 



The preparation of the bed upon which the animal is thrown, 

 and of its location, will require some judicious attention from the 

 surgeon. A convenient place, with sufficient space to aUow per- 

 fect freedom of movement' about the patient, such as a large yard, 

 a barn or an open field will fulfil the requirements. The ground 

 should be smooth, and, if possible, soft— a pasture lot or farm- 

 yard, or a manure heap often offeriag good facilities for the pur- 

 pose in country practice. In any case it should always be covered 

 with a layer of straw, sawdust or tan bark of sufficient thickness 

 to prevent a violent concussion when the patient falls, and ought 

 to be sufficiently wide to allow him to fall as nearly in its center 

 as possible. Its dimensions should be approximately from nine 

 to ten feet square. 



An important point ia its construction is that it should be free 

 from any hard foreign substances, such as stones, bones, pieces 

 of wood or iron, etc., for fear of contusions or other similar lesions 

 against any parts of the body of the patient. 



Several methods are in use for throwing a horse, among which 

 are the peculiar apparatuses known as the hobbles. The ropes 

 and the operating tables are also used. The previous preparation 

 of the animal for the operation ought not to be forgotten. This 

 usually consists in a fast of not less than twelve hours, and will 

 always be found to be a good measure. 



A. — Casting I nth Hobbles. 



These are of various kinds. Some are made of leather, others 

 of rope, but they are aU constructed upon the same principle. The 

 English style, invented by Bracy Clark and afterwards improved, 

 which are in most general use, present so many advantages in their 

 facility both of appHcation and removal from the legs after the op- 

 eration, that we shall limit our consideration to them alone (Fig. 19). 



A set is composed of four hobbles, a chain and a spring hook. 

 Each hobble is formed of two straps of leather of unequal length, 

 the shortest {a) having attached on one end a strong buckle (^), 



