COMMINUTED FRACTURE OF THE TIBIA. 131 
From the manner in which I was treated, I invited several 
medical gentlemen to inspect the limb after its removal from 
the body. Twelve gentlemen did me the honour of paying 
me a visit, all of whom were much pleased with the morbid 
specimen, and expressed themselves in such terms as led me 
to believe the case was to them a most interesting and even 
a novel one. The following is a description of the fracture as 
it now may be seen in its dried state. About the middle of 
the tibia appears to be the principal part which gave way 
from the pressure of the chains, where a triangular piece of 
bone, five inches from point to point, and extending across 
to the inner edge of the bone, is free. A crack, four inches 
in length, runs up from this towards the head of the bone, 
and another is on the inside, six inches long. Numerous 
small pieces of bone are also present. The edges of the 
various pieces of bone are smooth from absorption, and 
probably friction. Large quantities of fibrine were thrown 
out to effect reparation. The periosteum was increased in 
thickness to full half an inch. 
This part of the tibia being formed so as to give attachment 
to muscles, will account in some measure for the tenacity 
with which the bones held together. 
I do not presume to offer this case to the members of our 
profession as one of a novel nature, since doubtless there are 
many who could relate several similar instances. Such are, 
however, happily for the owners of horses, not of frequent 
occurrence. It has fallen to my lot to have been called to a 
pretty considerable number of cases of fractured bones during 
my short life, and it may not be out of place if I relate one 
which occurred during my residence at Winchester. The 
principal object I have in view in recording these cases is more 
for the purpose of showing what some of us poor veterinarians 
in country towns are liable to, so that all may be on their 
guard, should they at any time be situated as I have been, 
without a friendly member of the profession near to consult in 
time of need. To proceed : I was called hurriedly to give an 
opinion upon a race-horse, the history of which was as 
follows: Frank Buckle was riding the horse in question his 
trial race, prior to the St. Albans’ races. When the animal 
had gone about half the distance, the rider found something 
give way ; he prepared to fall, and pulled up the horse as 
soon as he could, which was not for a quarter of a mile. The 
horse was now seen to be lame in the near hind leg, but 
neither the trainer nor himself could discover the cause. He 
was therefore led to his stable, a distance of two miles, and a 
messenger was despatched to the owner, whose residence 
