222 The Diseases of Animals 



to conform to the leg, and either be bound on with 

 bandages or welded to the shoe, the upper end being 

 held in position with bandages. After splints are ap- 

 plied to a fracture, they should be carefully watched, 

 to see that they do not "cord" the part, shutting off 

 the circulation below. Chafing of the part or loosening 

 of the splints is to be guarded against. Should these 

 conditions occur, the splint or cast should be removed 

 and another applied. After the splints are applied the 

 animal must be kept as quiet as possible. If it is a 

 horse, and kept in the standing position, slings or 

 "lean-tos" should be supplied, to rest the animal. If 

 the animal is lying down it should be well protected 

 by bedding, to prevent the forming of bed-sores. 

 Plenty of nutritious, laxative food, especially bran 

 for the larger animals and milk and meat for the 

 smaller, should be supplied, as these furnish an abun- 

 dance of the mineral substances which are important 

 in preventing disease and in repairing injuries of 

 bone. 



A jelly-like substance exudes from the broken ends 

 of bone. This soon turns into gristle and forms a 

 callus around the broken parts, and finally turns into 

 bone and firmly welds the parts together, if they are 

 brought into contact. If the bone has been well set 

 in its normal position, the callus becomes absorbed 

 and disappears, and scarcely a trace remains to show 

 the place of the fracture. Sometimes, in setting a 

 fracture, the bones are not replaced in their normal 

 position, and, as a result, the leg may be shortened 

 or somewhat crooked, causing the animal to limp. 



