The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-01-10
THE PRESS.
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD,
How TO Treat Animals with Broken



How 20 Treat Animals with Broken
Legs.
1t is considered very serious accident for
horse or mule to get its leg broken, and as
a rule, when such an accident occurs, an
animals life is sacrificed, unless it be occas-
ionaliy, when much value is at stake.
Various modes of treatment have been sug-
gested from time to time, the greater part OF
which has been attended with much trouble,
and generally considerable expense, hence
have not been brought into general use. 1t
may be possible that the mode of treatment I
am about TO suggest, has been tried by
others, but IF SO, am not aware of its being
extensively used, therefore l venture to offer
the following on the subject: Of late years
the "Plaster of Paris Dressing" as it is cal
led. has been revived, after having been dis
carded for long time, and with the present
improved mode of applying it, is considered
one OF the very best modes of treatment for
fractures of human limbs, and especially
when applied to the lower extremities. Its
advantages have been fully tested, both In
hospital and private practice, and the results
have been the most satisfactory, where the
ordinary precautions have been observed.
have had some experience with this dressing,
and have invariably had the most gratifying
results; full.report of two cases may be
found in Penn. State Medical Association
Transactions, 1875, and the Reports of Bel
levue Hospital, N. Y, abound with cases
which have been treated there within the
past three years.
l am not veterinary surgeon, neither by
education nor practice, but have long seer
the need of some efficient and practical way
of treating the fractures of animals, especial
ly those of horses, and having expressed my
views on the s'plaster dressing" as being APP
plcable to both man and beast, q persona
friend took occasion to test my sincerity, by
calling on me 10 dress fracture of young
and valuable mule, which had fractured the
right leg, between the hoof and pastern joint.
applied the plaster by the usual method for
fractures, by preparing my rollers in the fol
lowing manner. / took six rollers, each two
inches wide and six yards long, and while
unroled them busted both sides with dry
Plaster Paris. I re-rolled my bandages quite
loosely. This being done, and armed with &
basin Of luke-warm salt water, we proceeded
to reduce the fracture by binding the leg al
the knee-joint, and having two strong mer
make extensions and counter-extensions BY
pulling steadily in direct line, and on find
ing the injured parts well in opposition, ap
piled piece of U. s. blanket from the knee
10 the hoof, and with my roller well moisten
ed in the salt water, began applying it in the
ordinary way from below upward, at the
same time keeping close watch on my ex
tension and counter-extension. After the
leg from the knee, and including the upper
half of the hoof, had been thoroughly encaseC
in this box Of cloth and plaster, I directed the
extension to be kept up until the plaster
should be firmly set, and keep the leg flexed
for the first twenty-four hours. This having
been done, the mule received no further at
tention, than to be kept confined to his stall
and the usual supply OF plain food and drinl
was given regularly, such as hay, oats, ant
corn, just in their whole form, and no medi
cine of any kind being used either externally
or internally. At the end of seven weeks tn,
plaster dressing was removed, and the uniol
of the parts was complete, with no deformity
except slight enlargement at the point o
union, which will probably all be absorbet
and disappear. The mule did not incline t,
injure the dressing with his teeth, although
permitted to lie or stand as he desired, had
however, directed mixture of common Ia
and pulverized aloes, equal parts, to be ap
piled to the plaster dressing, should there b
any tendency to use the teeth. The success
attending this very simple and easy mode O
treating fractures in this case of an animal
usually more vicious than the horse, has lie,
me to believe that "Plaster of Paris" prop
erly applied, must be as successful in thu
treatment of fractures in animals, as it ha
been in those of man.-AmericGn Agric7al
turiSI,