]92 
MESENTERIC HERNIA. 
water, and on these occasions this horse was in the habit of 
galloping about very much. One day he was observed to be 
lame after his gambols, and so much so, that it was thought 
necessary by the persons having the care of the animals, to 
have the shoe taken off. In the attempt to do this, it was 
discovered that one of the bones of the pastern was fractured. 
We were informed of what had occurred, and, at the request 
of the owner, a van was sent for the animal, in which he was 
brought to the infirmary. An examination showed it to be 
a case of comminuted fracture of the long pastern bone, 
extending into its upper and lower articulations, thus 
making the case even more complicated than otherwise it 
would have been. Under such circumstances no hopes of 
recovery could be entertained, and the animal was therefore 
ordered to be destroyed. 
Fractures of this kind are by no means rare in the fore 
limbs of horses. There is scarcely a practitioner of any 
standing who has not met with instances of it. I have 
heard it argued, that horses with upright pasterns are more 
liable to fracture of the pastern bones, than others in which 
a greater obliquity of this part of the limb exists, and perhaps 
it is so. Nevertheless, I have seen it occur in horses nearly 
thorough bred, and who had very oblique pasterns. 
As a rule, fracture either of the os suffraginis, or os coronae, 
is comminuted, the main split or division of the bone being 
usually in the direction of its long axis. Sometimes, how- 
ever, it takes an oblique direction. Occurring as it fre- 
quently does on the level road, and when the horse is going 
at a moderate trot only, makes it difficult to assign a true 
cause for the fracture. May it be that the attention of the 
animal is somewhat suddenly taken off by an object which 
excites his attention, so that an unconscious step produces 
concussion and to such a degree as to fracture the bone ? 
CASE OF MESENTERIC HERNIA PRODUCING 
STRANGULATION OF RECTUM, AND ACCOM- 
PANIED WITH RUPTURE OF THE ILEUM. 
By John Markham, M.R.C.Y.S., Rugeley. 
Yesterday afternoon, March 8th, myattendance was reques- 
ted by Mr. Holliss, of Oak Fields, to a mare which had been 
suddenly seized with abdominal pains while at plough ; blood 
