646 
FRACTURE OF THE VERTEBRA IN A COW. 
to ease herself by resting as she chose, now mostly on one and then 
on the other, and thus also the skin was secured from chafing. 
The weight of a horse’s head is very great, and, I am per¬ 
suaded, if I had not used these means, its gravity would not only 
have prevented the neck from assuming its right position, but 
would have caused a still greater curvature ; and the mare would 
have sunk under the exhausting effects attending the unnatural 
position of the head, to say nothing of the consequence of such a 
great determination of blood to the brain as must have ensued. 
I saw the mare again in about a week, and, although the 
owner still despaired of success, I could see an evident improve¬ 
ment : she could raise the head at least a foot higher of her own 
accord ; she was stronger and more lively ; and on moving her 
out of the stable, I found she could walk straight. The neck, too, 
I thought was somewhat straighter, and I felt satisfied that the 
muscles were acting as I wished. The same mechanical treat¬ 
ment was pursued; and, the next time I saw the mare, her 
amendment, in every respect, was very manifest; the neck was 
still more straight, and she could raise the head to the manger 
without difficulty. 
The owner for some time past has used the mare as usual, both 
for harness and saddle; and the neck, though not quite straight 
when I saw her last, yet, in my opinion, bids fair in the course 
of time to become so. 
Since the above has been written, the mare has gone through 
her exercises in the North Hants Yeomanry Cavalry as well as 
ever, and only the slightest appearance of the injury can be dis¬ 
covered on examination. 
A SINGULAR CASE OF CONSTITUTIONAL DISTURB¬ 
ANCE IN A COW FROM FRACTURE OF ONE OF 
THE LUMBAR VERTEBRAE. 
Mr. C. Snewing, Coventry. 
On Friday, the 8th of June last, I was sent for to attend on a 
cow, which, on the 5th, was first perceived to abate a little in 
her quantum of milk, accompanied with some loss of appetite 
and a slight discolouration of the urine. 
On the 6th, these symptoms were more aggravated, and the 
urine had now changed from the colour of brown sherry to that 
of blood. The aid of a cowleech was sought after and ob¬ 
tained. He administered one of his alleged infallible draughts. 
