The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-01-22
BHUNeN BuNes.
those Of Horse VIII Knit ~ Tbcy Are
Properiy Treated.


Properly Treated.
It Is a common opinion that horses
bones, once broken, never unite. This IN
n standard error. A man who talks Of
curing fracture In horse Is pretty sure
Of rebuke or sneer. Tho attempt to
cure is seldom made, because tho horse
IL rarely worth the cost Ho may, after
all, remain permanently stiff and lame,
and for that reason fail Of compensniing
for the outlay Of keep and treatment.
Tho horse, because Of his environments
and duties, is exposed to 80 many ncoi
dents, resulting in broken homes, al-
though it is not to be du~d thut many
such untoward hnppcur"i are directly
due 20 carolossnoss in tre construction
Of insecure stalls and permitting thom
to minglo with one another as IN pas
ture, without first removing the hind
shoes, so chat the force Of kick, play
fully or Intentionally administered, may
he rendered harmless. Fractures Of the
limbs are by far the most frequent and
often nucessitato sacrifice Of the unfor-
tunnte creature. While in general the
symptoms Of broken leg are evident
enough, occasions will present them
selves when it will be difficult, perhaps
impossible, to decide upon the exact ma
turc Of the injury. The most impressive
feature about broken limb Is the more
or less complete inability to use tho in
jured member, this suspicion being
further strengthened by the history of
its sudden occurrence and following tho
receipt Of some injury. Motion at part
of tho limb usually devoid Of mobility
is fairly positive proof Of fracture and
is expressed by the term dangling Of
tho log" II tho leg should be shorter
course, would he the first opinion to on
tertain. But no testimony is comparable
to that known as crepitation, which is
the sound produced by rubbing together
of pieces OF broken bone To elicit this
sound without innicting unnecessary
pain IL is requisite to manipulate the
parts gently and carefully.
The repair Of broken bone is one Of
natures many interesting processes,
which art merely aims to assist by ad-
| justing the fragments in as nearly Il
normal position as can be obtained and
maintaining it until firm union is es-
| tablished. 1t is in this connection that
the greatest obstacle presents itself.
Subjects with severe bone injuries are
difficult to restrain and often manage
to disarrange the dressings, however in.
geniously devised, in spite Of the best
directed precautions. Whenever n break
is complete and involves n long bone Of
the limb, efforts should not be made tc
cure, except In the case Of valuable
breeding mares or stations, unless 1t b,
some favorite pet in whose behalf an in
dulgent owner is willing to devote time
and money. Fractures Of the bones en-
tering into the formation of the hip ar,
quito common and generally follow ai
tho result Of severe falls. In these par
ticular cases treatment is often tn,
means Of restoring an animal, after sew
eral months, to condition almost al
good and serviceable as before the acci
dent All that can usually be done is tt
suspend the patient in sling, so as t
prevent lying down, allowing nature, il
her own way, to mend the damaged
bone. Successful management in al
cases Of fracture calls for sound judg
ment and nice adjustment Of whateve
dressing or bandaging is employed, an'
offers an excellent opportunity for veter
inaries TO display their tact and skill
The period has not long elapsed when t.
have received such hurt was quit
equivalent to undergoing sentence o
death fcr the suffering animal. and per
haps today a similar verdict is pro
nounced In many cases in which the OK
ercise Of little mechanical ingenuity
with due amount Of careful nursing
might secure contrary result and in
sure the return Of the patient to his for
mer condition of usefulness. A fractur
in horse is, in fact, no less amenabl
to treatment than the same description
Of injury in any other creature. But tn
question Of propriety and expediency c
treatment is dependent upon certai
specific collateral considerations. Gin
cinnati Enquirer.
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| E.,ou.tn~ Vlytty, Val