Evening journal., 1907-05-27
DIR. RUHL ON THE
STOCK DISEASES
Tells Milford Grange About
Surgical Operations on
Horses

At Milford Grange recently Dr. +. p.
Ruhl gave a talk on Diseases OF
Stock" He confined his remarks large
ly to surgical operations on horses.
An animal with a fractured limb is
quite common and these cases require
experience and a certain amount Of
paraphernalia. The object Of surgery
IN animals is either 20 prolong life or
Increase value. In the human family
the object is always 20 prolong life and
no commercial idea is considered. With
an animal there has 20 be a considera-
tion OF the cost and it IS often more
advisable to kin the horse or COW
than to attempt a cure. Tho care Of
the animal. the loss of It's service, It's
feed. the fee of the veterinary. all have
to be counted. Where an amputation
is likely to be necessary it is best to
destroy the animal.
What TO Do for Fractures
When the horse has a fracture be-
tween the knee and fot-iocS the chances
are that he may recover. The owner
would lose the use of the horse from
six months 70 a year. beside feeding
be put in slings for six weeks or more
and If all went well. then be turned
into the pasture. He would still be
lame and 1t would not be certain for
some time that he would not always
be lame. There are numerous in
stances on record Of animals being
cured of fractures and becoming val-
liable Among operations TO add 60
the value of a horse Is the severing
of q nerve IN the leg 10 prevent lame
ness. IL Is usually quito successful
and practiced I'm the city more than In
the country. II prolongs the usefulness
OF a horse who would be otherwise
lame. Tho doctor knows OF one case
where a horse was in use six years
after the operation. After the nerve
IS cut the foot requires careful care
as there IS no feeling there and Il must
be watched for any injury and be
carefully shod. In time the foot Is
liable to decay and be lost from mall
nutrition. Recently the operation has
been performed on the nerve higher
up in tho limb and such serious results
are not so likely 10 follow. The division
of a nerve for spring-halt IS also prac-
tlced but relief Is only temporary and
Dr. Ruhl would not advise st. There
are various sorts of lamoncss In tht
treatment Of which the veterinary
uses hot iron or blisters for counter
/ irritant such as sDrains. rinsbone
/ splints and side-hone. There are al
of the same order but in different posi-
tions and caused by some sort Of
blow. When early treated they ar
frequently cured but the enlargement
of the bone never leaves
Results Of Operations
The veterinary surgeon should neve
| advise an operation unless he Is ree
sonablv certain there viii be favor
able results and the owner informe
Of the probable cost Operations on tn
abdomen Of the horse are always FOL
lowed by neritonitis and death. som
forms of hernia are successfully treat
ed without the use Of tie knife am
cutting should not be done when IN
result desired can be otherwise Oh
tained. I'm all surgical cases the opera
tor can not be too careful 20 have In
struments and handages perfectl.
clean. Tetanus. or lock-jaw, oftel
follows simple wounds. Acute case
of lock-iaw are always fatal but sim
Die cases recover under favorable con
ditions. There are many cases or ms
tulus withers in Delaware. The doc
tor thinks the collars and harness use
here are the cause IN many cases TN
trouble is disagreeable for veterinar
and owner and requires much car
and attention. Fistula In the loot ]
called auittor and in the head poh-evi
All cases demand the sloughing an
getting rid Of the diseased tissue and
deep seated and reaches the bone ina
must be scraped and the parts thor
ouehlv cleansed and drained Pol
evil If not deep seated Is usually cure
An Of these nstulus troubles are Oh
result Of injury by a blow or bruisin'
Bevond a certain stage the kniie
an absolute necessity The location
anv injury has much 20 do with ~
chances Of recovery.