768 SUPPOSED FRACTURE OF THE OS CALCIS. 
ciation, and even some of those who have stood aloof have 
promised to join us. I think the “status” of our profession 
is more likely to be improved by co-operation, and by veteri¬ 
nary surgeons conducting themselves as gentlemen, and 
avoiding pursuits of a degrading nature, than by taking such 
a ground of objection as Mr. Mitchell has done in his letter 
to vour Journal. 
•/ 
Yours respectfully. 
To the Editors of £ The Veterinarian .* 
CASE OF SUPPOSED FRACTURE OF THE OS 
CALCIS. 
By “ QuiEsiTOR.” 
Fracture of the os calcis is, I believe, very rare, and, as 
far as I am aware, an unrecorded accident. A supposed 
case of the kind came under my notice last week, the sub¬ 
ject of which was an aged, well-bred mare, addicted to the 
habit of kicking at night. Some six or seven weeks since, 
the groom, on going to the stable in the morning, found the 
mare very lame, and in consequence of this she was placed 
under the care of the local veterinary surgeon, who continued 
to treat her. At the end of the time named I saw her, and 
found that she was very lame when walked out, but did not 
appear to be in much pain. After repeated and very careful 
manipulation, I came to the conclusion that the os calcis had 
been fractured, and that a partial union had taken place. 
A friend to whom I showed the case thought—and I 
believe still thinks—that the bone was not fractured, but 
that a lesion of the tendons of the gastrocnemii muscles had 
taken place. In fact, he considered that a split from the 
seat of curb to about three inches above the cap of the hock 
had taken place, and that each time the animal moved, the 
tendon slipped off the apex of the os calcis; but he did not 
quite make me understand how it got back into its place 
again. Certainly, the action of the tendon was very peculiar, 
and somewhat difficult to describe. But, supposing my 
friend's diagnosis to be right, this would still leave unac¬ 
counted for the very evident lateral motion of the bone 
detectable on the application of pressure. 
The mare will probably be put to the stud, so that for 
the present the case must remain in doubt; but, it being so 
unusual a one, I thought that, though very imperfect, you 
