AND HIS DISEASES. 25 



they are seldom attempted. Indeed, if any important bone 

 ip broken, it seldom repays the trouble, unless it be"a very 

 valuable mare. 



Before determining the course to pursue, the full extent of 

 the injury must be Ascertained as near as possible. Having 

 determined to treat the case, the animal must be slung, the 

 ends of the bones replaced, and kept in place by the judi- 

 cious application of bandages and splints. The limb must 

 be fixed to prevent motion, cold water constantly applied to 

 subdue the inflammation, perfect stillness enjoined, and the 

 animal fed on laxative, easily-digested food. 



Compound fractures are not worth troubling with ; it is 

 much better to destroy the animal at once. 



In cases where portions of bone are detached, as is com-' 

 mon in the haunch, cut into it and remove it, when it will 

 soon heal up. If broken pieces of bone are allowed to re- 

 main, they act as foreign bodies, and set up irritation ; matter 

 forms, which is discharged, and it heals up, to break out at 

 some future' time. In all these cases, the part must be laid 

 open, the irritant extracted, when it soon heals up. ' 



There is no common rule for the treatment of fractures ; 

 they must be treated according to circumstances. Observe 

 that the bones are kept in their proper places, reljain them 

 there, keep down the inflammation by cold applications, feed 

 the patient on easily-digested food, and attend to his general 

 comfort. 



