198 Veterinary Elements. 



minuted; greenstick fractures occur in young animals, 

 and resemble the break in a green stick, not a clean, 

 sharp break, hence the term. 



Union of fractures (broken bones) takes place some- 

 what as follows: During the first three days inflamma- 

 tion and exudation is going on, from then to the twelfth 

 day soft material is thrown out around the broken ends, 

 and if the bone is hollow also in the hollow space; by the 

 end of a month if the ends have not been disturbed the 

 soft material mentioned is changed into bone (being 

 known as the provisional callus), following this stage, 

 material forms between the broken ends, being later con- 

 verted into bone, which process takes about two months, 

 thus completely uniting the broken parts; this material 

 forms what is known as the definitive callus; if occasional 

 movement of the ends occur during this stage, complete 

 union is not possible, and in such cases the material 

 thrown out instead of becoming bone takes on a gristly 

 formation. The absorption of more or less of the excess 

 of callus follows, usually taking several months or longer 

 to be performed, before this occurs the point of union is 

 shown by an enlargement. Briefly the treatment of frac- 

 tures consists in bringing the broken parts together, se- 

 curing them in that position by splints and bandages, 

 usually left on six to seven weeks, drainage and antisep- 

 tic treatment of the fracture if a compound one, entire 

 rest of the patient for at least three months, in a well- 

 bedded (short material, such as cut straw, shavings, saw- 

 dust, being used) box, give good, nutritious, laxative food 

 and plenty of green meat if available. Fractures may 

 be detected by the presence of sudden, severe lameness, 



