296 CHAPTER 36. 



each otlier and from irritating or lacerating the adjuiuing parts ; and in 

 such cases there may be no serious amount of swelling to interfere with 

 the due and continued apposition of the parts and the commencement of 

 the process of healing or union. 



"When the bones are thus adjusted, the next thing, if possible, is to 

 keep them in their places. This is often a very difficult matter, and 

 needs exjiertness and ingenuity. Splints padded Avith tow and bandages 

 and strips of adhesive plast<?r may be used, and in some cases the horse 

 may be slung with the view of taking the weight off the part afifected. 

 • The starch bandage is a very useful application. It is formed by 

 soaking in thick starch nmcilage strips of linen, which may be placed one 

 over the other in layers, as each dries, until a firm splint is formed. 

 Additional su])]>ort may be given by a well-adjusted wooden s))lint outside 

 all. Pads of fine tow will be found useful in preventing midue pressure 

 on particular parts. 



Before applying the starch bandage the part should be oiled, and then 

 a piece of tape should l)e jdaced longitudinally over the fracture. Tlie 

 end of the tajye should be left hanging out, so that if excessive swelling 

 of the limb takes j)lace, the l>andage may be ripped open and taken off 

 and dipped in warm water and then reapplied without losing its shape or 

 " mould. ' Great ease and relief will in such cases be given to the patient 

 by this change. Longitudinal slits in the bandage will also be found to 

 give ease. 



Plaster of Paris makes an excellent mould and supjiort in cases of 

 fractured pastern-bones in which great displacement does not exist. 



It nmst be borne in mind that it is not merely a sujtport, but an euxy 

 support, which is required. Pressure cannot be borne. Infiannnation, 

 but not repair, will follow on uneji«iness ; and then the patient will be 

 rendered irritable, and by his movements will certainly frustrate all our 

 efforts at cure. 



"When the parts are much swollen and tender, any undue intiammatury 

 action must, as a preliminary step, be reduced by warm fomentations, as 

 far as possible ; or where the mischief is circumscribed or almost super- 

 ficial, by wet cloths kept constantly moist with cold water or refrigerant 

 lotion. 



But practically, except as regards the facial bones, cases, which recpiirc 

 such means, cannot as a rule be successfully treated, and the horse may 

 as well be destroyed at once. Generally after all our efforts, and just 

 Avhen we think the case is going on favorably, the horse will by some 

 sudden and unexpected movement cause the fractured ends again to 

 separate. 



In comjiound fractures, /. e. where the skin is broken and the bone 

 protrudes, and in all comminuted fractures the case is hopeless — at least 

 as regards the horse becoming sound in his action. Facial injuries are, 

 of course, an exception. 



Omitting, for the reasons given above, such cases as broken leg or back, 

 Ave now pass on to the detail of the treatment of those fractures, which 

 under favorable circumstances offer a fair chance of recoveiy. 



