Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-11-10
Horse Surgery.

dorae surgery.
: There used to be popular notion in vogue
years ago among the average farmers that the
flesh Of q horse injured BY deep wound would
} not heal over, and that broken bone would
never unite. Hence the belief became COM
mon that ii was thoroughly useless TO under
take any treatment for horse with broken
leg excepting the shot gun treatment to end
the life of the unfortunate horse thus in
Jured. With horses there was a dead loss
from broken leg. but the COW or OF which
became disabled from this cause, could be
cident which might otherwise result in loss
Now. however, with the better knowledge of
the animal anatomy and economy, more cor
rect views are entertained and more rational
system followed. With good care and treat
ment most of the common ailments which
happen to animals yield to good skill and are
cured, in as large number of cases as the
same accidents and injuries would be if in
the human family. Instances of broken legs
in valuable cows, calves and colts, which
unite and become sound, the result of good
care and treatment, are now quite frequent
and even the more difficult cases of animal
surgery are by no means uncommon.
| We had he ard from horsemen that DR.. c.
E. Pickering of Gardiner. local yeterina-
rian of much skin and high reputation, had
successfully treated several difficult cases of
horse surgery and being in that city fe W
days since called at the Doctors new and |
neat Office connected with his stable and |
horse hospital corner of Winter and Summer |
streets, and had most interesting talk with |
him. One of the most successful cases
which DIR. Pickering has had the past sum
mer, was that of the well known mare Per-
ley, owned by Capt. JAS. S. Cooper of Pitts
ton. This mare is one Of the best ever
raised in Kennebec county. She is by Ken
nebec, by Independence, (2.2lt, and is
half sister to Molly Mitchell, (2.3l4.). She
was found in her stall one day last spring
with terribly bad wound in the fore arm
or long abductor of the right leg. This cash
was five by six inches and three inches deep,
separating and laying bare the large and
short extensor muscles and tendons of the
large, fieshy part of the leg in painful man.
ner. So bad was the injury, that while be-
fore it was done her owner valued Perley at
81, POO, when he found in what condition
she was after the accident, he did not regard
her as worth cent and supposed she would
have to be killed. However, DR.. Picker
ing took her and had her under his treat
ment nine weeks when she was sent home
sound and we'll. She was put in the sings
and remained there four weeks, bearing not
an ounce of weight on her feet for all that
time Then she was let down gradually used
gently, and by degrees again gained the use
of her legs and came out all right. Her
strength was kept up by stimulants of diff
erent kinds, and the wound skillfully treated.
How the accident occurred is a mystery. At
the end of nine weeks she was dischar ged
entirely cured, the flesh not only healed over
smoothly, but the hair growing naturally,
although leaving a slight scar. At the time
of the accident horsemen did not think it
possible to save the mare but DR.. Picker
ing insisted he could do it, and her fine con-
diton to-day is evidence of his good judg-
ment and high skill.
Another case showing the careful treat
ment of DIR. Pickering that of the injury
to horses owned by Mr., Charles II. Stack
pole of Gardiner, who has several of as fine
blooded gents drivers as are owned on the
river. This, too, was most singular acc-
dent. valuable two-year- old colt owned
by Mr.. Stackpole, was found in the stable
one day with the ilium of the pelvis bone
broken. This is one Of the largest bones
supporting the system of the spinal column
in the hips, and at the point where broken
lin mature animal) is three inches wide
came broken in a colt in the stable is mvs.
terry But what is more singular than the
above is the fact that the dam of this colt,
valuable mare nine or ten years old, was
found one day in the pasture, with the same
bone broken and in rhe same place. Both
these horses were treated by DIR. Pickering
and both fully recovered. The question is
not, as DIR. z informs us, as to whether
such injuries are durable, so much as is the
question Twill it pay to treat them?" In a
valuable horse it will in an old, unsound or
worthless horse it will not But as to the
matter of their successful treatment and {
cure, that is no longer regarded as question
able. Horses with broken legs and broken
bones can and do live and become sound ami .
mails.
DIR. Pickering has been engaged in his
profes sion in Gardiner for about ten years,
and now has wide practice in horse sur
gerry and treatment. At his veterinary hos
pital at present are horses for treatment
owned by Charles Wakefield and David
Dennis of Gardiner Capt. Rich of Farm
ingdale, one owned by gentleman in
Portland, and one or two owned by other
parties. Under DR.. Pickering's care the
cases are sll returned to their owners cured
DIR. Pickering has studied under DR.. G. H.
Bailey, State Veterinarian of Portland, but
is now making plans to take a course for his
Degrees at the American Veterinary College,
New York.
Talk About Horses.
The Election races at Beacon Park, Ais