Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1892-02-27
HELP FOR THE HORSE.
THE GREAT ADVANCEMENT IN
EQUINE SURGERY.
When InJured the Animal Is Almost
as We'll C,red for al Man
What Medical Science Is
Doing for Mans Friead,

When it was announced that Uncle
Rob- the American derby winner of
1890. who broke his leg at Garfield
park. would not be shot there was
great rejoicing among the sporting
fraternity, says the Chicago News.
Several of his admirers paused mo-
ment while celebrating the glad It'd
ings to pay a passing compliment TO
veterinary surgery. which put a,horse's
broken leg in splints instead OF putting
bullet into his brain.
There seems to be u general impress
sion that the only remedy for broken
bone in horse is plenty Of powder
aud lead. judiciously and promptly
administered 10 the great ma ority
OF people the idea that the unfortunate
animal need not give its life as a
penalty for fractured limb was so
novel as to excite wonder yet splints
are placed daily around broken legs of
horses.
One of the young doctors on the
staff of the Chicago veterinary col
lege when the inquiry was put Why
is it necessary to shoot horse when
it breaks a leg9 promptly answered:
"There are plenty of fool ideas float
ing around regarding horses but the
most foolish OF the lot is the idea that
broken bones Of horse will not unite.
The plain fact is that they will join as
readily as the bones Of man, and all
that is necessary to make union is
to keep the patient quiet Now. that
is the sum and substance Of it all. If
II you can keep your horse quiet you
Can set any bone in his body but there
is where the trouble comes in. 1t is
impossible to make a horse keep still.
Much depended on the locality Of
the fracture. If it is below the knee
and not eomminuted. that is. if the
bone is not broken in fragments, the
leg can be put IN a plaster cast the
horse placed in sling, and the
chances are that the bone viii unite
all right. It will take four to six
weeks 10 make union. and the horse
Will probably go lame for three or
four months after A fracture below
the hook can b. treated successfully.
but If 1t IS above the bullet is the only
thing to recommend. for there is no
way to keep the leg fixed and the
horse will not keep still Thus the
conditions are against union. and
the broken bones keep the animal in
such agony that it is merciful act to
kill Il
If horse had as much sense as a
dog we could treat it more successful
ly for a dog Will hold its broken leg
up and travel on three legs. but a
horse apparently does not favor the
Injured limb hut will rest its weight
or a featured bone as though the bone
were whole. II will not do to sling
horse completely of its feet for the
entire weight would come on the
respiratory and digestive organs. pro
ducing such distress that the horse
would die. The sling is used to pre-
vent the horse lying down and is so
adjusted that the animal can put its
w light on tine sling by slightly bending
the knees"
When the young surgeon had fin
isltd talking he led the way to the
operating room. where Dr.. Sayers as
sisted BY r. Hughes was performing
ali exceedingly nice operation in
veterinary dentistry The tooth in
the "a Gas far back N the upper
las so badly decaycd that it had dis
APP cared from sight The operating
labie hal a fitting top moved by a
sccw lever Straps for binding the
legs body and neck wese firmly at.
tac5eI to tho table top. which stood
OF It's edge. while the blindfolded
horse was strapped securely The
wheel was turned and the table tilted
from the perpendicular to horizontal
position, carrying the horse With it.
A. there was nothing OF the tooth tor
tie iOrceps to grasp, it was decided
tia: The only way 10 extract the tooth
was 70 push it out
After giving the seat Of pain an in.
iect Oh o. cocaine Dir. Sayre5 drilled
hole straight into the iawboae above
the tooth. passing through large
pus cavity and ssvering several small
arteries, which were carefully liga-
turel. The tooth was SO soft and so
rotten that large pieces we're found
foating in the Dus. When the loose
fragments of the tooth had been
crushed and drawn out through the
incision al iron bar was placed against
the roots and the tooth was driven
down anl out by mallet
During the operation the sufferer
ga2ed won1eringly at the doctors with
patient eyes moaning with pain and
fright and struggling whenever a
nerve was pierced. But The removal
Of the tooth ended the pain. and when
all was over the wound was carefully
dressed and the horse led to stall.
Sometimes horses have their teeth
filed and extracting fling and clean.
ing the teeth are common occurrences.
clever .heep.Dos.