UNION OF A FRACTURED FEMUR IN A COLT. 
649 
situation of the injury — the hone being so surrounded with 
muscle — and the restlessness of the patient, it was no easy 
matter, nor was the operation likely to give much satisfaction. 
My procedure was as follows : — After applying fomentations 
of hot water and vinegar to the parts for a considerable time, 
I made a broad splint and placed it in the direction of the hone 
(see fig. No. 1), keeping it in its situation by smearing it with 
pitch ; across this splint I placed pieces of stout pasteboard 
(2), and connected them to each other in the same manner ; 
and over these I put long strips of sheepskin, also smeared 
with pitch. The latter were passed from the outside of the 
limb, round the inner part of the thigh, close up to the peri- 
neum, and then back again to the outside (3). Over the whole 
broad pieces of linen, saturated with starch, were placed (4). 
The animal was supported in an erect position during the 
process, but almost immediately afterwards he got down 
(upon the opposite side) from sheer exhaustion. Luckily he 
laid quiet sufficiently long to allow the materials to get pretty 
well set. In this position he remained for six weeks, only 
occasionally drawing himself about the box with his fore 
legs. He partook freely of the food which was offered him, 
which at the onset consisted chiefly of milk and gruel. After 
the period named he was turned over regularly every day for 
three weeks, and the sores which had been caused by lying 
so long properly dressed. He was subsequently got up with 
assistance, and continued to stand with little difficulty. 
When I saw him in the following February, the splints, 
<&c., had come off, and he could walk, almost sound, for 
a short distance. Upon examination, however, I found 
that a perfect union of the fractured bone had not yet 
taken place ; the extremities were still movable, and made 
