600 
REPORTS OF CASES. 
REPORTS OF CASES. 
FRACTURE OF LARGE METACARPAL BONE. 
By S. R. Howakd, Y.S., Hillsboro, Ohio. 
Subject, a five-year-old, eight hundred pound running 
mare, property of S. Bayliss, liveryman. On June 6th, 1891, 
they were speeding her a quarter on time. Had been in 
training two months. While doing her best she faltered and 
fell. I was called immediately. Found large metacarpal of 
left leg had sustained in its lower third a simple, complete 
oblique fracture, without displacement. 
Prepared a piece of sole-leather as a splint, extending from 
just below knee to within an inch of toe, and about two-thirds 
around leg. Slashed it so it would mould well to leg. Had 
her led to box stall. Placed a man at her head with twitch on 
her, and gave her a hypodermic of morphine. Had another 
man steady the ankle while I bandaged. 
I first placed a dry roller and padded well behind fetlock 
with tow. I then dipped leather splint in hot water, moulded 
it to the part, and secured all with plaster paris bandages, 
from below knee and including entire foot. Left her in box 
stall and bedded with sawdust and cut straw. 
In ten days crepitation ceased, and there was at no time 
the swelling usually seen in such cases. The owner decided, 
in a few days after accident, that bandages were not tight 
enough. Upon consultation I refused to replace them. In 
two weeks she began placing some weight upon limb. In five 
weeks the owner removed bandages and walked her home. 
Kept her up several weeks and then turned her to grass. 
Took her up middle of October, lameness scarcely percep- 
table. Saw him trotting her to a light buggy to-day, (six 
months from time of accident), and I could see no lameness. 
This I consider an exceptionally successful case. I do not 
use sling where fracture is below knee, unless owner wishes 
it. In a ver}* short time they get up and down all right. 
I measured and compared this mare’s fore legs to-day. The 
one fractured is perfectly straight, but at lower part of frac- 
