G4- 
SYNOPTICAL OBSERVATIONS ON INJURIES, 
ETC., OCCURRING AMONGST ARMY HORSES. 
By “ Hippogriff,” Royal Horse Artillery, India. 
In this chapter of accidents we shall meet with a diver- 
sity of matter which we hope to be able to render interest- 
ing by the relation of the common occurrences of our daily 
practice. 
We are not prone to trouble ourselves much when we get 
into a climate that is not conducive either to manual or 
mental exertions, but we will nevertheless try to overcome 
our lethargy by contributing jottings from an outlandish 
corner of the earth, that we, at least, may profit by casting a 
retrospective glance over our experiences. 
The horses of the army are perhaps liable to a greater 
variety of accidents and injuries than those of any other 
service, and in this country they suffer not the least in this 
respect, even in the time of peace. 
No part of the body is exempt from the influence of forces 
which will cause abrasions, contusions, £tnd wounds of every 
description, or a complication of these three forms of injury. 
Sprains of the joints andof the fibro -ligamentous and tendinous 
structures of the limbs are likewise almost as frequently to be 
met w T ith as the former; and, comparatively speaking, as we 
may have occasion to note at some future time, fractures of 
the bones of the extremities are numerous. Fractures of the 
bones of the haunch and dislocation or luxation of the 
patella are likewise on our records. These may be all said to 
have been chiefly caused by kicks and falls ; but we must 
particularize the causes to make them noteworthy, and mark 
results as we proceed. 
Injuries, then, are sustained by falling, rubbing, or rolling 
against the pegs to which the head and* heel- ropes are 
attached ; by falling with great violence, after a horse has 
broken loose and is rushing madly about, on Macadamized or 
other roads, in which case there is a good deal of abrasion ; 
by collision with the parapets of small bridges, corners of 
walls, and pillars of stables, round which horses attempt to 
turn when loose or running away. We have seen several 
horses run away with their riders, whom they have carried, 
at a fearful pace, into their own standings, doubling round 
the pillars in the most marvellous manner. A young horse 
ran off with a limber, in which he was being broken, crossed 
