The Black Stallion Challenged by Walter Farley

cotton. The injured bone area was now in complete view.
    “I have all the room I need,” the surgeon told his assistant. Then his gloved fingers probed the wound for bone fragments and adhesions at the fracture site. He paused to allow his assistant to manipulate the suction tube again, then walked over to look at the X-ray plate that was hanging against the wall. It showed a fracture of the long bone.
    It wasn’t good, but he’d seen a lot worse during the past week. The filly had a fifty-fifty chance of ever racing again. Post-operative care of these weight-carrying bones was always the big problem. But that would come later. Right now he had to join the fractured partsperfectly and make certain the leg would stay that way long enough for a firm callous formation to develop. Fortunately, the filly was young and the healing process would not take as long as with an aged horse. That was one thing in her favor, anyway.
    He went back to the table. “How’s she doing, Max?” he asked, turning to the anesthetist.
    The report came quickly. “Pulse and respiration have steadied, Bill. Go ahead.”
    The anesthetist was a big man who kept shifting his weight from one foot to the other while adjusting the small machine before him. When the adjusting was finished, he glanced at the heart monitor attached to the machine. Satisfied, he straightened and waited for the surgeon to proceed.
    Alec, who had been watching the anesthetist, left the small group and went over to him. “What gas are you using?” he asked.
    “Halothane,” Max answered, his eyes studying Alec from beneath heavy brows. “Ever hear of it?”
    “I’ve read about it,” Alec answered. “It’s pretty new. It has twice the strength of chloroform and four times that of ether, so less of it has to be used.”
    A smile crossed the man’s face. “You’re right,” he said quietly, his eyes leaving Alec for the heart monitor. “More expensive but worth it, and a big step forward. No danger of any explosive mixtures as with ether. No effect on the heart, liver or kidneys as with chloroform. It allows the muscles to maintain complete relaxation, too. Just look at her,” he added, satisfied and proud of his work.
    The filly lay absolutely still as the operation proceeded. The anesthetist was an important part of this skillful team, Alec knew. He would keep the filly under anesthesia as long as necessary, using the halothane sparingly but effectively. He would add oxygen to supply her body’s needs and watch for any sudden change in heartbeat, blood pressure and pulse.
    She was breathing easily, Alec noted, the large rubber bag rising and falling regularly. The mask over her upper and lower jaw was airtight. She inhaled through one tube and exhaled through the other. The controls were set, regulating the amount of halothane and oxygen which she was breathing in. All carbon dioxide was being removed by sodalime contained in a metal cannister. Everything was going on schedule. The moments passed quickly and there was no sound within the room but the clink of operative instruments.
    Finally, the surgeon selected vitallium screws of the size needed to secure the fractured bone firmly. He inserted them into the bone with a small drill, and the whirring noise from the machine suddenly dominated the room.
    Alec glanced at Henry and found that he had turned away momentarily from the table. The whirring of the drill stopped as the surgeon had an X-ray technician take a quick picture. A few minutes later, the surgeon was looking at a film, still wet, that showed the progress of his work. Satisfied, he picked up his drill again. The screws he was inserting would remain in the bone permanently.
    Suddenly, the anesthetist said, “Hold it a minute, Bill.” He began adjusting a valve.
    The surgeon waited, brushing the sweat from his forehead. “How’s she doing?” he asked after a few minutes.
    “Pulse was slowing up but it’s steady again.”
    “Shall I go