LIVERPOOL VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 979 
ture of the head of the femur, and, seeing no chance of recovery, 
had the horse destroyed. 
I have also had several cases of fracture of the pelvis at the 
symphysis pubis ; and when the age and value of the animalwarranted 
it, I have treated them in the same manner with success. I have 
observed that all fractures of this character have occurred in mares, — 
caused by the animal being suddenly pulled up, and falling heavily 
on its haunches ; the ischium comes in violent contact with the 
ground, causing a fracture. The symphysis in mares being the 
weakest part, in consequence of its imperfect union, gives way. 
The next case that I will call your attention to was an aged 
chestnut mare, that was brought to my hospital from work very 
lame on the near hind leg. It was with very great difficulty indeed 
that she was walked there. Symptoms when I first saw her : — She 
was standing on three legs, holding the injured one up slightly from 
the ground. When made to walk, would place the foot of the 
injured leg flat on the ground, but refused to place any weight on 
it, and when she chanced to do so she would spasmodically jerk it 
off the ground and hold it, evidently suffering the most acute pain. 
Having satisfied myself that the foot was right, I next carefully ex- 
amined the pastern. There was not the slightest swelling; but 
when I applied pressure or slightly twisted the joint, the mare jerked 
the leg violently away, so much so as to be in great danger of falling 
over. I could not hear the slightest crepitation. Diagnosis : — A 
simple longitudinal fracture of the os sufffaginis. Treatment : — 
Applied a wet woollen bandage as tightly as possible round the pastern. 
I next put a strong wet linen bandage tightly over that, gave a gentle 
dose of physic, ordered soft food ; the bandages to be kept constantly 
wet, and the mare to be tied up by the head, so as to prevent her 
lying down. I did not remove the bandages for a week, to see what 
progress, and had them at once replaced. In about a fortnight she 
appeared much freer from pain, and showed a disinclination to 
place some slight weight on the injured foot. In another week l 
removed the bandages, and applied a strong cantharides blister all 
round the bone, and repeated it in a week. In six weeks the animal 
was discharged sound, and put to regular work. In about six weeks 
after she was again brought to me, very lame on the opposite leg. The 
symptoms were as nearly as possible the same as on the first occa- 
sion. The mare being a very old one, and the fracture appearing 
to be of a more serious character than the former one, I decided at 
once to destroy her. The bones are now before you. The first frac- 
ture you will see was a simple longitudinal fracture, and from the 
fact of its extending into the joint, it will be easily understood why 
the animal suffered such acute pain. The second fracture was of a 
similar character, and more complicated, as not only was there a 
longitudinal fracture of the os suffraginis, but also of the inferior 
third of the metatarsal bone. 
You will also see on the table several specimens of compound 
fractures of the os suffraginis, both of the fore and hind legs, which 
are easily diagnosed but admit of no treatment. Fractures of the 
