The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-07-12
How to Set q Horses Broken Leg.
american Agricultural.

Suppose we have a horse with his
hind leg broken six inches above the
fetlock. The first thing to dois to make
for him a firm, narrow stall, not much
wider than is absolutely necessary to
enable the animal to stand, or pair of
stocks such as are used for shoeing re-
fractory colts or mules. Arrange a
windlass by which, when band of the
strongest sail-cloth or some similar ma
terial is placed under the animals belly,
his hind quarters can be lifted clear off
the ground This belly-band should be
enc and half to two feet wide, and
long enough to allow its ends to be level
with the horses back Thus it makes
snug cradle in which the patient can
rest. Put now collar on his neck
and to it attach strap which shall ex-
tend from it between the front legs to
the belly-band, and thus prevent that
from sliding backwards or wrinkling
into band narrow enough to pain the
horse when his weight comes to be
borne by it.
Now having attended to the prelmi-
naries we are ready to set the limb.
See, first of all, that the leg is well clear
off the ground, making sufficient allow
ance so that when the bclly-band
stretches it will not allow the foot to
reach the ground Bandage the leg
smoothly but not too firmly from the
foot up to above the "knee" with
flannel bandage two or three inches
wide.
Now take canton-fannel with a good
nap, and wide enough to cover the
entire bandage, cut it into such shape as
will accurately fit around the leg-then
make five more just like it Take six
pounds of the best freshest Plaster of
Paris, not land plaste, but such as is
used for hard finish, and stir enough of
it slowly into two quarts of cold water
to make as thick as cream. Saturate
one of your last made canton-fannel
envelopes for the leg in the mixture,
then lay it on board with nap side up,
and pour on to and rub into it as much
of the liquid plaster as it will hold.
Next rub into the same flannel enough
of the dry plaster to fairly thicken and
tougher it.
Treat another piece of flannel exactly
the same way and lay the two fairly
together one on top of the other, and
promptly bandage them around the leg,
which is now to be held in its right po-
sition until the plaster hardens Mean
while spread over the last bandag a
thick coating of the wet plaster with
your hands; and then prepare two
more pieces of canton-fanne as before;
apply these over the first two and sur
round them with a bandage which is
also smeared with wet plaster
And, finally, the last two pieces of
flannel are treated as the others have
been, and in turn are to be we'll ban
daged and the remaining Plaster of
Paris rubbed into the last bandage.
This, when it has set, which will be in
few minutes, will give not only hard
but tough splint that fits the leg so
closely and keeps the ends of the bone
in such exact position as to render dis
placement impossible; providing the
leg has been properly held while the
plaster was hardening. Everything
must be in readiness before the plaster
is mixed with water, and it must require
less than half an hour to saturate and
apply all the flannel and the bandages,
or the plaster will have become quite
too hard to work. BY the time the last
bandage is to be applied it will be seen
that the plaster has become thick and
pasty, and is then in good condition for
coating over all with the hand
This would be my plan Gas it has |