674 
CONTRIBUTIONS TO VETERINARY PATHOLOGY. 
abraded. It had evidently been entangled in something, and with 
difficulty been removed. The fetlock had received a severe con- 
tortion and injury, but I did not at this time believe that it had been 
dislocated ; for although I remained some while with my patient, 
and even moved him a little, no displacement of the bones of the 
joint occurred during the period of my stay. 
Cause . — On looking round for this, it was soon discovered that 
the partition of the stall was broken in several places; one of which 
bore marks of a recent struggle, and, having hair adherent, clearly 
demonstrated that the fetlock had been entangled in this hole; and 
that the pony in his efforts to free it — which from the state he was 
found in, and from the strength of the partition, must have been 
considerable — had effected the injury. 
I placed a bandage over the joint, and directed it to be kept 
moist with an evaporating lotion which I forwarded ; gave a dose 
of cathartic medicine; and left my patient, telling the man I would 
see him on the morrow. 
Complete Dislocation . — At noon, however, I was requested to 
attend again immediately, the messenger stating that the bones were 
quite out of joint. I lost no time in visiting him, and found the 
state of the case such as to fully justify the groom’s remark. The 
pastern and foot are now turned inwards, having an inclination up- 
wards, the inferior condyle of the metatarsal bone supporting the 
little weight thrown on this extremity. The nature and extent 
of the injury are no longer problematical. It may be, I deem, con- 
sidered a complete dislocation of the fetlock joint, the external 
lateral ligaments being broken, and it is probable, also, that the 
capsular ligament has given way on this side. 
The retention in their proper places of displaced bones of the 
limbs is much more readily attained when dislocations occur in 
small than in large animals, and consequently heavy ones; and, 
considering the small size and little weight of this animal as cir- 
cumstances favourable to a cure, I proceed to the 
Reduction of the displaced bones, which, from their situation and 
connexion, was easily accomplished ; and to adopt means for their 
retention, which was attended with far greater difficulty. Splents, 
first of leather and then of wood, were fixed, and firmly bound on 
the joint with long stout bandages ; but it was found impossible 
to retain them for any length of time in their proper position : they 
were fixed and re-fixed several times in the course of the day and 
the succeeding one ; my patient so frequently shifting his position, 
and almost as frequently displacing them, that the object sought 
for, viz. the retention of the reduced bones in their places, was 
completely frustrated. That these measures were ineffectual to 
