Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1888-03-15
MENDlNG BROKEN LEGS.
Major AIvord Gives Page or Two Out 81
His Own Experience.

His Own Experience.
Every owner Of domestic animals Oc-
casiOnaily experiences losses from ac-
cidcntal I'M Iries to them. and this is
especially true of breeders who have
animals running together in numbers.
in yards or pastures. Broken legs are
not uncommon with horses and cattle
of various ages. and the question al
ways arises as to the best course to pur-
sue. The prevalent disposition is to
. regard a broken leg as incurable (and
this in spite of abundant evidence to
the contrary, and to condemn the I'M
fortunate animal at once to death.
There are cases. undoubtedly, in which
this is the better course, as where the
age or small value of the animal will not
warrant the expenditure of money and
valuable time upon it. But in other
cases it pays well to mend the broken
leg.
Too often, however, particularly when
young animals are killed as soon as
broken legs are discovered, it is true,
even if veterinary skill can not be OBJ
tanned, nature and common sense may
be combined to bring about substantial
recovery. A few cases in my expert
ence, to which have been added the OBJ
servation or account of others similar,
lead me to believe that where horses
and cattle have broken legs, and are of
sufficient value to warrant some eX-
penditurc Of time and labor, and not
too old, an effort should be made
to save them. Where possible it IS
doubtless true economy to en-
ploy the best veterinary assistance
in such cases. Country doctors, in
general practice, are pretty good COM
paratiye anatomists, and are usually
found willing to apply their surgical
skill to injured animals. The animals
themselves will generally do much to.
wards recovery. if only placed under
favorable conditions and reasonably
assisted by their owners.
Some years ago a two-year-old colt.
with others in an outlying pasture, was
found with fore leg broken above the
knee and hanging limp and useless. 1t
was early June, hot weather fast COM
ing on; the animal, although fairly
gentle, had never been accustomed to
stall or harness. | knew it was useless
to attempt putting it in sling, or adj
justing a splint aA bandage if left in
pasture. There was small lot avail.
able, with excellent grazing, water and
shade. In this the colt was placed,
simply watched. given little extra
nourishment in the form of oats, and
left to his fate. The leg hung in such
a way that the bone was in a natural
position, and the muscles were used to
keep the foot clear of the ground. The
animal moved about on three legs for a
month, took good care of the one in
jured. and l do not think it attempted
to lie down during this time. Then it
began to put its foot to the ground and
gradually to use the leg. By the time
pasturage failed in the fall it had a sub
stantially sound leg again. and was a
useful animal for years. When trot-
ting it showed slight lameness. proba-
: bly, due to little shortening of the in
iured leg, but in field work and for all
ordinary farm purposes it proved a
thoroughly serviceable horse.
A valuable heifer just year old hid
one hind leg very badly broken, includ-
ing an ugly flesh wound, while unload
ing from wagon. This leg was set,
put in stiff plaster bandage for weeks,
the animal kept in box stall, lying
down most of the time. After long
and varied experience with surgical as
sistance, making a case of much inter-
est but which can not now be de-
scribed in detail, the animal recovered
to such an extent that, although she
has an awkward leg, she is a good
COW and regular and profitable
breeder.
Within few weeks thrifty cali,
running in covered yard, showed
great lameness. and on examination
the bone of foreleg was found broken
between the knee and the ankle. 1t
was evidently caused by blow, from,
l fear, brutal attendant, now dis
charged. The age and condition Of
the animal were like those of the colt,
so no attempt was made to sling it and
use bandage. The calf has been
given "A comfortable and safe place,
fed well, and simple applications have
been made to reduce inflammation and
keep the leg in a favorable condition.
1t has been impossible for the creature
to keep its foot entirely clear of the
ground. and this has retarded the
healing; but it is now using the leg,
and while there has been a bony
growth, which will enlarge the leg and
be blemish, do not anticipate much
permanent lameness. and expect to see
the little fellow become sound, SER
vieeable bull.-Ngor II. E. AIvord, in
CuitiCdt0r.
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