The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1888-08-10
mEnDine BROKEN LEGS.

Major Alvord Gives Page or Two Out of
His Own Experience
Every owner of domestic animals oc-
easionalIy experiences losses from ac-
cidental injuries to them, and this il
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 broken leg as incurable (and
tl=is in spite of abundant evidence to
the contrary, and to condemn the un-
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 we'll 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
aud cattle have broken legs, and are of
sufficient value to warrant some ex-
penditure of time and labor, and not
too old, an effort should be made
20 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
parative 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
Sted by their owners.
Some years ago a two-year-old colt.
y th others in an outlying pasture, was
:orlld with fore leg broken above the
knee and hanging limp and useless. Il
was early June. hot weather fast com
ing on; the animal, although fairly
! 2EHJAcy llSt1 never DGtn dCftSlOilltu
stall or harness. l knew it was useless
to attempt putting it in a sling, or ad.
! iusting a splint and bandage if left in
! pasture. There was Il small lot avail.
able, with excellent grazing, water and
| shade. In this the colt was placed
simply watched, given a little extr;
uourishment in the form of oats, ant
left to his fate. The leg hung in sucl
! way that the bone was in a natura
position, and the muscles were used Il
.ecp the foot clear Of the ground. Th'
animal moved about on three legs for
month. took good care of the one in
1ured, 4ud DO Y.ot think it attempted
TO lie down during this time. Then j
began to put its foot to the ground AM
gradually to use the leg. BY the tim
pasturage failedin the fall it had a sub
stantially sound leg again, and was
useful animal for years. When troi
ting it showed slight lameness. probs
blv due to little shortening of the in
jured leg, but in field work and for a
ordinary farm purposes it proved
thoroughly seryiceable horse
A valuable heifer just year old ha
one hind leg very badly broken, inclut
ing ap ugly flesh wound. while unloat