244 HEALTH AND DISEASE 



of its broken parts, but where the fracture occurs at the neck pressure 

 at the point of the shoulder, when the leg is raised from the ground, may 

 cause it to appear. 



Some swelling will arise about the seat of the injury, and pain will be 

 evinced in response to deep pressure on the part. Forward movement 

 of the leg is effected with some difficulty, and weight imposed upon it 

 causes severe lameness. 



Where displacement occurs it is most difficult to bring the broken 

 parts into position again, and when they are so adjusted it is practically 

 impossible by any bandage or splints or other means to maintain them 

 there. All that can be done is to support the patient in slings and leave 

 the rest to nature. 



FRACTURE OF THE HUMERUS 



The humerus or upper arm is seldom l)roken. The large muscles which 

 everywhere enclose it serve as a protection against external violence. 



When this fracture does occur, and the breakage extends through the 

 body of the bone, but little difficulty is experienced in the diagnosis. 



The limb below the fracture displays unusual mobility. It is incapable 

 of supporting weight, and when the animal is made to move, acute pain 

 and lameness are evinced. The part is much swollen, and by carefully 

 fixing the upper segment of the bone, and moving the lower one, crepitus 

 may be developed 



Sometimes the external condyle is broken off, and the extensor muscles, 

 losing their fixed point of action, and being at the same time more or less 

 damaged, fail to antagonize the action of the flexors. As a consequence 

 the leg is drawn inwards and the foot and pastern are flexed on the canon 

 in such a way that the front of the hoof rests on the ground. 



When the inner condyle is fractured and the attachment of the flexor 

 muscles becomes weakened, the action of the extensor muscles, overpowering 

 them, draws the foot forward, while the knee, losing its support from 

 behind, falls backward. When weight is imposed upon the damaged leg, 

 this backward inclination of the knee becomes more marked and the 

 concavity in front of the limb is increased. 



Treatment. — When the shaft of the humerus is fractured there is 

 not much hope of restoring the animal to a state of usefulness for ordinary 

 physical labour. Where it is of special value for stud purposes an attempt 

 should be made to effect re-position and bring about reparation. 



The arm is a difficult place on which to apply a splint, and equally so 

 to adjust a bandage with any prospect of its being retained. We would 



