The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1898-11-11
For Live Stock Breeders.
Fractures of Bones.

Fractures of Bones.
When a sheep breaks leg, the
usual recourse is the butchers knife
but with valuable breeding stock this
is often unnecessary economy, for
treatment Is possible as with other
small animals, says the Bulletin OF the
National Wool Growers Association.
Most shepherds say kill when 1t is any
bone other than those below the knee
and back, no matter how valuable the
animal may be, but here again we say
don't kill, but endeavor to procure
union Of the bone.
Where the fracture Is low down, ana
the bone comparatively straight, the
work of the amateur surgeon is sim
pie. Have an attendant secure the
other legs, then cast the patient, bring
the broken leg into perfectly natural
position, which, with little further
manipulation, will bring the broken
bones into opposition. If everything
is now In readiness, the splints and
other dressings may be applied. For
| fore-leg broken below the knee, use
but one splint and wrap it well with
| cotton batting. Place It. behind the leg
instead of at one side or in front, and
hold 1t in place by a few turns OF
cheesecloth bandage. See that the
ends of the splint are we'll covered
with batting, then take 2-inch-wide
plaster Of Paris bandage, which may
be bought in any drugstore, soak 1T
well In water and at once bind 1t
around the leg and splint neatly, COM
mencing at the bottom and working
UP, then down again and SO on until all
Is in place when the operation Is COM
pleted by q cheesecloth bandage APP
piled Immediately while the plaster is
wet.
The ready prepared bandage Is much
nicer to handle and more satisfactory
In every way than plaster Of Paris in
bulk prepared at time Of use, and an
other advantage is, that it Is put up
In a tin box and may be kept at hand
for an emergency any length of time
without losing its virtue, which can
not be said of plaster, which Is apt
to be found useless just when most
required. In adjusting splints to a leg
broken just above the knee, it Is nee
essary to make the whole leg rigid,
hence the splint should extend from
the ground up and all hollows be-
tween it and the leg should be we'll
filed with batting before applying the
plaster bandage. Now as to fractured
shoulder blades and femurs (the bone
of the hind leg above the stifie-joinD,
the setting of which most shepherds
do not attempt. Shear the wool as
closely as possible, also from belly or
chest and over the top Of the shoulder
or rump as the case may be. Melt 3
pounds of Burgundy pitch in a pan
over a hot fire and have wooden pad
die in it to stir with and apply the
pitch. Have ready, before melting the
pitch, at least 100 pieces OF unbleached
muslin 2 inches wide and running In
length from to 10 inches. Bring the
leg into a natural position so that the
broken bone will be in opposition;
then having the other legs secured ana
the sheep held or strapped upon a
table, proceed to enclose the entire
leg of the broken part in a strong case
Of pitch and cloth. Coat one side OF
a piece of the muslin with the hot
pitch, then lay 1t directly upon the
skin. Place strip after strip in place
until the skin from stifle to hip is hid
den by layer or 5-ply thick and do
the same as regards the under side Oh
the leg, uniting the pieces layer upon
layer from above and lelow neatly, so
that the Job, when finished, II on
hind leg. looks about like ham in
a canvas jacket Some long pieces
should also be stuck to the other dress
ing and brought well over the rump
or shoulder, so as to carry the leg OH
the ground until 1t Is time to remove
the cast, which will be in three weeks.
BY this time the wool will have grown
below the pitch plaster, so that by
careful use Of the shears 1t may be
removed. Raw places should afterward
be dressed daily with little vaseline'
and as soon as the muscles retain their
strength, sheep will go sound, or even
II a little lame, that is much better
than losing the animal altogether as
| q breeder