REPORT OF CASES. 
63 
REPORT OF CASES. 
•/x 
SERIES OF CASES FOR THE HISTORY OF FRACTURES. 
By A. Liautard, M. D. V. S. 
♦ 
A. Compound fracture of principal metatarsal. 
Description. Brown stallion, 7 years, long tail 16 hands high, has 
trotted very fast and is kept for the stud about 200 miles from New 
York. 
History. Taken to the blacksmith on the 25th of February, to be 
shod, was found some hours afterwards at the door of his stable with 
his leg fractured. My first visit was on the 26th, when I found him 
in a large barn with an oblique compound fracture of the large meta¬ 
tarsal bone of the right leg. The upper fragment of the bone protrud¬ 
ing through the skin. Foaming blood, was oozing in small quantity 
through the wound. The leg was much swollen, and the animal in 
excessive distress. 
Prognosis , most unfavorable, the nature of the injury, the length 
of time since it took place, the nervous character of the patient; every¬ 
thing pointed to a bad result. Still at the strong request of the owner 
the animal was placed in the slings and a temporary bandage support¬ 
ing an imperfect gutta percha splint that I had with me, was applied 
until a better one could be secured. (It must be born in mind that the 
place was several miles off from the village, in a small farm where 
nothing could be found.) On the 1st of March, I found him very 
nervous, but quite comfortable, appetite improved. The dressing 
being removed the wound looks well, little suppuration is oozing. A 
piece of skin mortified by the pressure of the upper bony piece against 
the bandage sloughed off. 
I had prepared a box of gutta percha, composed of two similar 
long halves or pieces, and made so as to embrace the leg from the 
hock down to the foot. They were well padded with oakum and the 
leg enclosed in them ; the whole secured by turns of rollers. A 
window had been left in the center to allow the pus to escape, and the 
