FRACTURE OF THE TIBIA. 
459 
I had the animal placed in a narrow stall, and properly 
secured to a ring in the front, to prevent any attempt to lie 
down. Cooling lotions were kept constantly applied to the 
limb, and perfect rest enjoined during two or three weeks. 
These means proved effectual, and the bone reunited most 
satisfactorily, enabling the horse to resume his ordinary work 
in about six weeks from the time the injury was inflicted. 
I did not record this case at the time of its occurrence, as 
I was anxious to learn how it would progress. It may be 
asked by some of the junior members of the profession why 
this case terminated so satisfactorily, as general experience, 
and my own in particular, would lead to the inference that 
most cases of fracture in the horse terminate fatally. I have, 
however, as well as many other practitioners, been fortunate 
in the treatment of a few of such cases. 
My explanation is that this animal was of a mild disposi¬ 
tion, very docile in the stable, nothing appearing to ruffle his 
temper. He bore pain in a most extraordinary manner, was 
in excellent health at the time of the injury, and, in addition 
to these favorable conditions, the pieces of bone never separated 
from each other. Such circumstances, when present in any 
case, cannot fail to tend to the repair of almost any amount 
of damage which may be inflicted. There are patients 
whose irritable tempers under similar circumstances cause 
them—if one might so express it—to purposely undo every¬ 
thing which is done for their benefit. Often do we meet 
with such cases here, where the horses are not of the best of 
tempers. 
The above case is not altogether without interest, inasmuch 
as it shows that we need not take an unfavorable view ot 
every case of fracture. It will help also to explain to the 
general public that they need not give so much heed to 
those wonderful cures which they sometimes read of in the 
newspapers. A practitioner of veterinary medicine not long 
since published a case of fracture, in which he took the oppor¬ 
tunity of stating, if my memory serves me right, that two 
members of the profession—I forget his precise language— 
had decided that the animal ought to be destroyed, but that 
he, without hesitation, undertook the treatment of the case, 
and succeeded in effecting a cure. 
I know some of us are a little too precipitate in pronouncing 
a verdict. It has happened to myself, and 1 have had cause 
to regret it. There is an old saying, which will apply both 
to the medical and veterinary practitioner, that one man must 
not look over the hedge, whilst another mav steal a steed.^ 
We will suppose a case, and doubtless many of your readers 
