INTERESTING OPERATION

Hokitika Guardian, 22 June 1929, Page 7

INTERESTING OPERATION

A HORSE X-RAYED. GORE, June 15. An unusual and interesting operation was parried out at Russell’s horse bazaar at Gore on Thursday on the trotting horse Ingle Bingen, belonging to Messrs Smaill Bros., of Moa Flat, the animal being put under an X-ray examination. 'The operation was carried out by Mr W. Bell, Invercargill, who has been responsible for other successes in this direction, and the undertaking was executed without the slightest inconvenience. The animal had been suffering from a discharging ..wound on its fetlock, and it had Wen found impossible to discover the foreign matter which was the seat of the trouble. The X-ray equipment was erected oil the floor of the stable, and the horse was brought into position adjacent to a wall. Mr Bell had the assistance of Mr AV. Pierson, Gore, who, wearing a hcaw weighted apron, held the foot in position on his knee. Subsequent to the operation Mr Bell explained that great success had attended a previous experiment in which a piece of metal had become lodged in a hoof, and had become overgrown. The matter had shifted its position to another portion of the foot, and it was only by the use of the X-ray that the seat of the trouble had been found and the operation performed which had resulted in tlie alleviation of the suffering. The negatives shown revealed the metal very clearlv.

The result of the present operation, was made known when the plates were developed, and it was discovered that the animal had been suffering from an injury to the hone. It will now be possible to proceed with the correct remedial treatment.