The Strand Magazine, Vol. 01, January 1891: An Illustrated MonthlyVarious
General
The Strand Magazine, Vol. 01, January 1891: An Illustrated Monthly
Various
English literature -- Periodicals; Short stories, English -- Periodicals
"Rest, complete rest, is what he needs," remarks a passing doctor. And a
very ingenious arrangement is provided in order to attain the desired
end.
This consists of a big canvas sling, held up by half a dozen pulleys. On
this the whole weight of the body is supported, and the comfort afforded
is equivalent to that provided by a good bed to a weary man. The animal
is so weak that, if he tumbled down, it is doubtful whether he would get
up again. Here he will remain until completely recovered, which means
enjoying the repose afforded by this horsey hammock for a period between
six weeks and six months.
The two fractured limbs are, for the time being, imbedded in iron
splints with leather bands, and fitted with little pads in front in
order not to cut the leg. All these surgical appliances are in every way
as perfect as if they were intended for the human frame, instead of for
a horse's.
Sickness does not seem to diminish the appetites of the inmates, and
doses of iron and quinine are not of frequent occurrence. It may take
three or four months to cure a case of lameness, and long terms of
confinement may possibly be needed for diseases of the respiratory or
digestive organs, or of the skin. But the bill for food, hay and straw,
amounted to the comfortable sum of £1,510 0s. 8d. last year, against the
modest outlay of £166 11s. 5d. which was spent in drugs. The number of
horse-patients confined to well-kept beds of straw and healthy
peat-moss, in admirably ventilated apartments, averages fifty at one
time. Their paddock--or sick-ward--is a pattern of cleanliness,
neatness, and good order.
There is only a moment to spend in the operating theatre, acknowledged
to be the finest in Europe. It is a huge space covered with a glass
canopy, where four or five horses can be operated on at once. There is
ample accommodation for every student in the hospital to obtain a good
view of the proceedings. Only a moment also to peep in at a little
apartment in the far corner--a small operating room fitted up with a
trevis, a wooden structure where the animal to be operated upon is
placed, and strapped in with ropes, so that movement is impossible; only
a moment, such a barking and a whining breaks upon the peaceful
air--troublous cries that find an outlet from the open door of an upper
room, to which ascends a stable staircase. It is the dogs' ward!
[Illustration: THE NURSERY.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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