CENTRAL VETERINARY MEDICAL SOCIETY. 499 
the measures he adopted; it served to illustrate, in a striking manner 
how, under favorable conditions, when parts are placed in a state of rest, 
they would become reinstated, notwithstanding that considerable portions 
of the bone may slough away. He had known several instances of 
broken bones of horses, but never saw anything like the present speci¬ 
men. In answer to inquiries, the Chairman further said the animal was 
fed up fat for the butcher. The accident occurred about the 10th or 
lltli; had then been lame a fortnight; it did not show whether it was 
a tumour or a fracture. Five weeks after the event Mr. Olver removed 
the piece of bone shown; on February 17th he removed the bandage, 
on which date the animal, practically speaking, recovered. In four 
months the bone was restored. The animal was killed only recently 
(March 22nd), and he (the Chairman) received it to-day, about eighteen 
months after the accident. 
Mr. J. Moore doubted if one of the small bones originally came off the 
leg- 
The Chairman said the detached piece and metatarsal were just as re¬ 
ceived by him ; the latter had skin on, and a scar on the skin. The 
small bone was taken out five weeks after the accident. New-forming 
growths of bone increased very considerably ; it had been six weeks 
altogether detached from the source of nutrition. The periosteum was 
removed from it, severed from the blood-circulation, isolated from 
nutrition, dry, and shrunk. 
The Secretary said one could see the upper union. 
Mr. Shaw observed there was ossification going on. 
The Chairman said there was not the slightest doubt about the new 
bone ; it bore every trace of having been fractured, or having a tumour. 
He had stuffed the skin and the hoof; it was cumbersome or he would 
have brought it that evening. 
The Secretary said he presumed they were aware that in removing 
diseased joints or other parts of bone in man it was very possible to 
have a very free use of the limb again from the growth of fresh bone 
that takes its place. He had witnessed an operation on a man where it 
was expected. In horse practice there was little opportunity of seeing 
how nature would recuperate the loss of bone, but in dog practice the 
advantages offered were great, and nine cases out of ten do well; in 
some the growth of bone was incredible. A horse might do even better 
than a dog if it would nurse its leg. 
Mr. G. A. Banharn asked how the plaster was usually applied. 
Mr. Hunting explained his method of applying it, and said he fre- 
quently.used them; it was difficult to take them off. Seven or eight 
years since he had a heiferwith a fractured metatarsal bone; the animal, 
which recovered, had had several calves since then- 
Mr. Price had found a gutta-percha bandage better than the plaster- 
of-Paris one. Cases of fracture should be bound round with cotton wool 
or lint, and then covered with gutta percha, softened in hot water, right 
round the limb ; it would then remain any length of time, and could be 
removed easily by laying it open with a knife. In a few days, if the 
limb swelled, a hot iron could be drawn round to expand the gutta 
percha. lie thought it a capital thing; it could be had any thickness, 
and applied better than any other bandage. 
Mr. Sheather observed it was better to apply a little oil to one’s 
hands; one could get the gutta percha on better. 
Mr. A. Broad then read a paper on “Glanders and Farcy,” the dis¬ 
cussion on which was adjourned to the next meeting. 
