82 
ON THE KE-UNION OF FllACTUllED BONES. 
tion of the whole limb ; when I found a slight contusion upon 
the inner side and about the middle of the tibia; painful to the 
touch, although not larger than a half-crown piece : the hair was 
not rubbed off on this spot, and I could not detect any other in¬ 
jury or blow. 
Having seen a case or two of this kind previously, I at once 
concluded there was a fractured tibia, and communicated my 
fears to the owner, who could Hardly suppose (to use his own ex¬ 
pression) that the mare’s thigh was broken, and yet nothing out 
of place. I had her led back into the stable, took away some 
blood, gave a cathartic ball, used some cooling lotion to the part, 
and which I also directed to be kept well wet with cold water, and 
for her to remain tied up as I had fixed her, and kept as quiet 
as possible ; the diet to consist of mashes. 
These injunctions were strictly adhered to, and during the two 
following days all seemed going on well, as also on the third 
day, when I repeated my visit. 
Upon the morning of the fourth day, I received a message, 
stating, that the mare’s thigh was completely in pieces; and 
which upon my attendance 1 found to be the case. She was 
immediately destroyed. 
The bone, on examination, presented an oblique fracture. 
Here, then, was a failure of the treatment; and in all cases of the 
like kind I have found the same result. 
I will now relate the case to which I was called this morning. 
A useful bay horse, the property of Mr. Chamberlain, of this 
place, was discovered to be lame in the off hind leg. There was, 
likewise, a small wound upon the stifle of the near hind leg. He 
was supposed by the owner to have got his leg over the bail 
which separated him from the next horse during the night, and 
perhaps, to have fallen, but he was found standing in the morn¬ 
ing. The respiration was hurried, and there was an increased 
pulse. He was supporting a little weight on his off leg, but w'as 
evidently suffering great pain. 
On examination, I found a contused surface, not larger than 
that described in the preceding case, immediately upon the in¬ 
side of the tibia, and about mid-way between the back and the 
stifle. It was extremely tender upon pressure; but no other ap¬ 
pearance of fracture could be detected, although I was certain 
of its existence. I bled him, gave a cathartic, had cold water ap¬ 
plied to the whole limb, and sent for my slings to place under the 
body, so that he might not struggle and so misplace the divided 
ends of the bones. The pain seemed to be increasing, and he 
kept shifting his position, by hopping on the other leg; in doing 
this, and before I could fix the slings, he slipped, and fell against 
