INJURIES TO THE VERTEBRAE. 
467 
may be attempted, although, as paraplegia may still occur, recovery is 
uncertain; Korber saw it set in as late as five clays after injury. As, 
however, the diagnosis in such cases can never be perfectly certain, it is 
advisable to wait, particularly if the animal’s slaughter value is slight, 
or if it be valuable for breeding. Isolated cases are said to have recovered, 
though the descriptions given throw some doubt on the correctness 
of the observation. But though possible, recovery (in horses) depends 
on so many circumstances that it can never confidently be anticipated. 
In these cases prevention is better than treatment. Stables should be 
Fig. 181.— Bernardot and Butel’s apparatus for prevention of broken back wlien casting. 
so constructed that animals cannot injure themselves in rising, and great 
care must always be taken in casting. The first matter is beyond our 
province ; but in regard to the second, the following points must be 
observed :—In casting the larger animals, a soft bed, preferably of straw, 
is necessary to prevent fractures of the ribs and of the bones of the 
pelvis. The horse should first fall with the chest towards the earth, and 
whilst lying the head and neck should be kept extended by several power¬ 
ful assistants. As a further precaution, especially in well-bred horses 
with strongly-developed vertebrae, Bernardot and Butel’s apparatus 
(fig. 181), consisting of a strong head-collar with padded straps, and 
of a girth and crupper, may be employed. The head-collar and girth are 
h n 2 
