618 AMPUTATION OF THE NEAR HIND LEG OF A COW. 
/ 
of which I here exhibit to you), form some of the most spendid 
tints in nature, and probably constitute the bases of the colouring 
matters of many animal products. 
AMPUTATION OF THE NEAR HIND LEG OF A COW. 
By Mr. W. Shield, V. S., Arbirlot, Forfarshire. 
To the Editors of u The Veterinarian 
Gentlemen, 
Having never read in your Journal any case of amputation in 
the lower animals, I herewith transmit you an account of one 
which I lately performed with success; the insertion of which in 
your valuable periodical will much oblige, 
Yours, &c. 
Wm. Shield, V. S. 
October 12, 1831. 
About the middle of July last, I was sent for by a neigh¬ 
bouring farmer to see a cow that had got her leg broken; but 
happening to be from home at the time, my father went, and 
found the near hind leg broken about four inches above the hock. 
The fracture being an oblique one, and the inferior end of the 
bone protruding through the skin, he tied it in the usual way, and 
desired them to keep it constantly wet with a mixture of vinegar 
and water. I went next day and saw her: the case appeared to 
be going on well, and continued to do so for about a month, 
when an ichorous discharge began to appear; but I still hoped 
to succeed in healing up the wound. The cow, however, got 
restless; and my hopes were blasted, and my labour proved 
fruitless. 
Having now despaired of effecting a cure in the ordinary me¬ 
thod, I made known my opinion to the owner, and proposed am¬ 
putation of the leg, to which he at first agreed, and the time was 
accordingly fixed. But on the morning I was to perform the 
operation, he came to me and said he would not let the limb be 
taken off, because she was sure to die. This I did not relish well, 
as I had by that time procured a tourniquet and knife from a sur¬ 
geon in Arbroath; and besides that, there were two or three sur¬ 
geons coming to witness the operation. However, about ten days 
after he sent an express for me to come and see what I could make 
of her. I accordingly went: he desired me to take my will of her, 
and to do as I thought fit. 1 was still of the same opinion as 
