458 
FRACTURE OF THE TIBIA. 
Sewell, keep the key in the pocket, and see that (i no one 
is admitted except on business.” 
In some places a horse with lock-jaw causes quite a con¬ 
sternation, and many persons are anxious to see the patient, 
and thus are constantly disturbing him. I recollect, some 
ten years since, being summoned late one winter’s night to go 
a journey of twelve miles to see a valuable hunter which was 
very ill. His owner, it appeared, had about a week previously 
got upon him at the covert side, intending to ride him in the 
hunt but he stumbled and floundered about so much at every 
grip or ditch that he deemed it prudent to dismount and send 
him home. The horse was placed under the care of a person 
who prided himself upon having a “ correct knowledge of 
farriery/’ because, when a young man, he had been groom 
to the “ old lord.” 
I was informed that the patient had been twice bled, and 
that two quarts of castor oil had been wasted in a vain 
attempt to pour it down the animal’s throat. 
Upon entering his box the following scene presented 
itself. The poor tetanic creature, in the greatest state of ex¬ 
citement, w : as being fomented w ith very hot w^ater about the 
head and neck by one assistant, while two others were en¬ 
gaged in performing a similar office on either side of the 
abdomen. Besides these, two more attendants were holding 
a flaring light in each hand, surrounded by several others 
all busy in giving occasional advice. The only recommendation 
1 thought proper to offer w'as, to “ put out the lights and go to 
bed.” 1 need hardly add that the next morning I received a 
note, stating that the poor patient’s light was also gone out. 
FRACTURE OF THE TIBIA.—RECOVERY. 
By Richard H. Dyer, M.R.C.V.S., Waterford. 
On the 26th of February last a bay gelding received a kick 
from his stable companion, on the near hind leg, nearly mid- 
w r ay between the hock and patella. He w T as brought imme¬ 
diately to my infirmary, and after a long and careful examina¬ 
tion 1 found that the tibia was fractured, or, as l think it w r ould 
be more properly designated, splintered. The diagnostic 
symptoms of such cases may be mentioned as, inability to 
move the limb, acute pain upon pressure to the part, and the 
capability of feeling the edge of the splintered portion oi 
bone—an unerring guide. 
