The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-07-31
HOW TO SET A HORSES BROKEN
LEO.


LEG.
Many horse with broken leg is |
killed to put out of its misery, that
might, with proper treatment, have
been cured, and if not made as valua-
BILE as before at least saved to many
years of useful labor. Skilled veter-
mary surgeons are yet rare, and in
the country very seldom to be found.
1t is much to be regretted that ply
sicians and surgeons generally think
it beneath them to treat domestic
animals. This is not the case, how.
ever, with a surgical friend of ours
who has had much success in treat.
ing fractured legs of horses, and has
had the satisfaction of seeing several
animals that would otherwise have
been killed made useful to their de-
lighted owners. At our request he
has written out his method OF treat.
ment.-Anaerican Agriculturist.
Thanks to the application of COM
mon sense to surgery, we have now
at our command successful method
of treating fractured limbs among
our farm stock. For durable cases
this new method will give good
percentage of fair results.
Here it is. Suppose we have a
horse with his hind leg broken six
inches above the fetlock. The first
thing to do is to make for him firm
n0rrOsc stall, not much wider than
is absolutely necessary to enable the
animal to stand, or pair of stocks,
such as are used for shoeing retrac
tory colts or mules. Arrange wind
lass by which, when band of the
strongest sailcloth or some similar
material is placed under the animals
belly, his hind quarters can be lift
ed clear of the ground. This belly
band should be one and half to
two feet wide, and long enough to
allow it's ends to be level with the
horses back. Thus it makes a snug
cradle in which the patient can rest.
Put now collar on his neck, and to
it attach strap which shall extend
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 1t.
Now having attended to the pre-,
liminaries we are ready to set the
limb. See, first of all, that the leg is
well clear Of the ground, making
sufficient allowance so that when the
belly-band stretches it will not allow
the feet to reach the ground. Band
age the leg smoothly but not toe
firmly from the foot up to above the
"knee" with flannel bandage two Of
three inches vide.
Now take canton flannel with &
good nap, and wide enough to cover
the entire bandage, cut it INTO sucf
shape as will accurately fit around
the leg-then make FIVE more jus
like it. Take six pounds of the best
freshest plaster of Paris, no, land
plaster, but such as is used for hard
finish, aud stir enough of it slowly
into two quarts of cold water to
make mixture as thick as cream.
Saturale one of your last made can
ton flannel envelopes for the leg in
the mixture, then lay it Oh 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 in
to the same flannel enough of the dry
plaster to fairly thicken and tougher
| it.
Treat another piece of flannel ex
actly 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 position until the
plaster hardens. Meanwhile spread
over the last bandage thick coat
ing of the wet plaster with your
hands; and then prepare two more
pieces of canton-fannel as before
apply these over the first two and
surround them with bandage which
is also smeared with wet plaster.
And, finally, the last two pieces Of
! flannel are treated az the Others have
been, and III turn are to be wei
bandaged and the remaining plaster
of Paris rubbed in to the last band
age. This, when it has set, which
will be in few minutes, will give
not only a hard but a tough splin
that fits the leg so closely and keeps
the bone in such exact position as
to render displacement impossible,
providing the leg has been properly
held while the plaster was harden
ing. Everything must be in readi
ness before the plaster Is mixed with
water, and it must require less than
an hour to saturate and apply ali the
flannel and bandages, or the plaster
will have become to hard to work
BY the time the last bandage is tt
be applied it will be seen that the
plaster has become thick and pasty
and is then in good condition FOL
coating over all with the hand.
This would be my plan (as it has
been, and successfully, toO,) for thu
fracture | have described.
The principle involved in any 9th
er case and with other animals woulc
be similar with such modification.
as common sense suggests.
l contend that an effort should be
be made in almost every instance tc
save the unfortunate animal. | have
saved number by the method de
tailed above.
The average time would be frou
Elk to twelve weeks before the belly
band can be removed and the limit
tried. 1t may be necessary to renew
the splint once, and it should not be
finally taken off until some time after
the leg is walked upon, as it affords
additional strength to the point OF
fracture. What I have written may
not be new to some readers. [ am
certain it will be to others, and fol
them have written.