LIVERPOOL VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 981 
place about the centre of the femur, the great swelling doubtless 
arising from rupture of the femoral artery. I had the horse at once 
destroyed, as I could not see any prospect of cure. 
The next and last case that I will call your attention to is one of 
a very peculiar nature, and occurred in my practice about ten 
months ago. I was requested to unnerve a bay mare that had been 
suffering from navicular disease for several years, and was becoming 
unfit for work in consequence. I suggested two objections, 1st, 
that the disease had probably advanced too far for the operation to 
be of much value ; 2nd, the risk of such an animal breaking its 
back during the operation ; however, I was requested to operate. 
I had the horse brought to the hospital and placed in a loose box, 
and it was not long before she was lying down. I at once took 
advantage of this, and put a man on her head to keep her down 
whilst I had the hobbles put on and had her legs drawn together 
and secured. I operated quickly and satisfactorily, the horse strug- 
gling a little on the dividing of each nerve, but hardly so much as 
is usual. After removing the hobbles she attempted to rise, but 
only succeeded in raising her fore-quarters ; however, with a little 
assistance, I got her up, when it was at once apparent, from her 
staggering manner, that a fracture of the vertebrae had taken place, 
she having to be propped against the wall to prevent her falling 
down. Of course I had her destroyed, and found the thirteenth and 
fourteenth dorsal vertebrae fractured at its body and spine. This 
was a clear case of fractured vertebrae from struggling during an 
operation, and in my opinion the majority, if not all such cases, 
occur in the same way, and not, as was supposed, in the act of 
casting. 
When accidents of this nature do occur it is fortunate for the 
veterinary surgeon if he be a man of already established reputation, 
and also if he be serving an intelligent educated client, to whom he 
can explain the unlooked-for accident, and who will accept his 
explanation as satisfactory ; but should he be a young practitioner 
who is striving to attain an honorable position, it does not signify 
how clever he may be, or however free from blame he may know 
himself to be, if he be so unfortunate as to be operating on an 
animal belonging to an unreasonable man who will accept no expla- 
nation, but demands compensation for the loss of his horse, — such a 
position, I say, is a very difficult one for any young practitioner to 
be placed in ; and however well he may get out of it, he will not 
fail to feel its blighting effects for years afterwards. I will take 
this opportunity of calling your attention to that valuable society 
whose aims and objects ought to commend themselves to every 
veterinary surgeon, whether in practice or out of it ; I mean the 
National Veterinary Defence Association, which has already w'on for 
itself a name in thje successful defence of good and true men, who, 
through no fault of theirs, were placed in unfavorable positions. I 
hope these few cases I have laid before you will not only have been 
interesting, but of some future value to a few if not all of the 
members present. 
