254 RUPTURE OF THE SUSPENSORY LIGAMENT. 
even attempted to settle this knotty point'!-— if not, it is now 
high time. There exists a more urgent demand ; the public claim 
it as a right, and more especially now that they hear we aspire to 
honorary preferment from the legislature, with the endowments 
of privileges and the blessings of immunities. 
A CASE OF RUPTURE OF THE SUSPENSORY LIGAMENT 
IN A HEIFER ; AND, ALSO, ONE OF DROPPING AFTER 
CALVING. 
By Mr. John Young husband, F.S., Grey stoke, Cumberland . 
The first case that I would offer to your notice is that of a fine 
four-year-old heifer, whose hind leg became entangled in a conduit 
or drain adjoining the straw-yard, from which it was not released 
without difficulty, and, at the same time, leaving a large gaping 
wound midway between the pastern and hock, large enough to 
admit of my two fingers, and from which the blood flowed pro- 
fusely. 
On examining the wound, I found, what I suspected — the cow 
being down at the time — a complete rupture of the suspensory 
ligament; which, on the animal being got up and placing her 
foot on the ground, allowed of the toes being turned quite up- 
wards. I immediately told the owner that I considered the case 
as one of those that would require a good deal of time to accom- 
plish a cure, and, after all, perhaps, terminate in disappointment. 
However, I set to work, and the first step I took was to well 
cleanse the wound from all foreign substances by washing it with 
warm water in which a little alum had been dissolved, that 
materially assisted in stopping the hsemorrhage. The next step 
was to remove all the ragged and loose flesh from the edges of the 
wound, so as to allow of their being brought into direct appo- 
sition, and there fixed by sutures. I then applied a broad calico 
bandage, a few yards in length, so as to keep it as steady as I 
could. After having thus secured the wound, my next thought 
was, by what means I could secure the foot and leg so as to keep 
them in a situation to let the ligament have fair chance of re- 
uniting. This I did by getting a strong iron plate manufactured 
so as to take in the whole foot; from which a projection was 
formed of the same material, and made so long and rather concave, 
that it reached from the back part of the heel along the pastern 
and up to the hock. After being nailed to the foot, the leg, &c., 
was placed in a right position, and there retained by three leathern 
