8 Jan., 1908.] 



Diseases of Farm Animals. 



61 



Treatment of Fractures. 



As previously indicated absence of movement is the prime necessity in 

 the quick repair of a fracture. The broken ends of the bone sliould be 

 brought together into as natural a position as possible and some means 

 adopted to keep them there. Of such means the use of splints and band- 

 ages is the most satisfactory. Perhaps the best material for splints is 

 stout .sole leather cut to the required shapes and sufficiently long tO' extend 

 beyond the joints above and below the fracture. It should be softened 

 by soaking in warm water before use, so that it can be moulded to the 

 part to which it is applied, when, on drying and hardening, it will retain 

 its shape. Underneath the splint and next to the skin some soft material 

 such as cotton wool should be applied so as to fill all depressions and in- 

 equalities and so avoid uneven distribution of pressure by the splint and 

 bandage. If this is not carefully done chafing and bed sores will result. 

 The splints are tO' be fixed in position by means of calico bandages, evenly 

 and firmlv applied so as to give uniform pressure and adequate support. 

 Whether splints are used or not (and in some cases they are not necessarv) 

 the bandage should extend beyond the neighbouring joints so as to limit 

 their movement. The stiffening of the bandage is of great advantage in 

 limiting movement and it is usually dO'Ue by soaking it before applying in 

 some substance that will set stiff, such as thick-boiled starch or flour paste, 

 moistened plaster of paris or melted pitch. There is considerable scope for 

 ingenuitv in devising and affixing and applying mechanical contrivances of 

 iron or wood to prevent movement of the factured limb according as one 

 part or another is the seat of fracture. (See Fig. 6.) 



Fig. 6. One method of '"fixing"" the bone 

 in the middle line. 



n case of fracture of the lower jaw 

 .\fter Dollar.) 



When a fracture occurs in a position that cannot well be bandaged — as 

 for instance the shoulder blade or arm bone in the fore limb or the pelvic 

 bones or femur (thigh bone) in the hind limb, it is often a good plan to 

 immediately apply a flv blister. The resulting swelling gives the necessary 

 support to the parts an . mechanically interferes with movement, and the 

 pain attendant on it also retards voluntary motion. 



With irritable animals, especiallv dogs, it is always advisable to smear 

 the outer surface of the bandage with a solution of aloes or other bitter 

 substance so as to deter the animal from biting it off. 



