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(1.) The simple fracture or break, either oblique, or slanting, or 

 •traight across the bone. 



(2.) The compound fracture, where the bones are broken in 

 several places. 



(3.) The comminuted fracture, where the bones are broken in 

 pieces, and the ends of the broken bones are seen cutting through 

 the skin, and, possibly, severing some of the blood vessels, causing, 

 in many cases, death from loss of blood. 



The first, or simple fracture, is the only variety that calls for 

 much notice, as the other forms of fracture, when occurring in 

 horses, are beyond remedy. Simple fractures of the following 

 named bones may, with care, be in a great measure cured, and the 

 animal be made useful for many purposes ; as, for instance, it 

 would be obviously wrong to have a valuable mare destroyed, be- 

 cause of simple fracture of one of many bones, as she would be 

 useful for breeding purposes, if not for the farm or the road. 



Fracture of the bones of the leg anywhere from the elbow down, 

 except it may be the knee joint, can readily, with a little care and 

 attention, be secured in its place, and the animal be made useful. 

 So also the hind legs from the hock down to the foot. Fractures 

 of the ribs usually get well of themselves, because they are always 

 kept in place. So also of the haunch bone. Indeed, simple frac- 

 tures of most any of the long bones will unite of their own accord, 

 if the bones are put and kept in their places by proper fixings. 



Symptoms. The symptoms of fracture of the long bones of the 

 legs are seen at once by the looseness of the leg, the horse not hav- 

 ing the power to move it. The leg can be turned in any direction. 

 The horse is in great pain, excitement, sweating, etc. If there are 

 bones pointing through the skin, the horse had better be shot. 



Treatment. Place the horse, if in summer season, in the field, 

 and in winter in the barn-yard, where there is not too much straw 

 to prevent the foot being carried without interruption. 



Then give twenty -five drops of the tincture of aconite root every 

 five hours, for the twenty-four hours, to relieve pain, excitement, 

 and fever. Take hold of the broken leg carefully, and place it in 

 a position as near like the other leg as possible, not only in shape, 

 but in actual length by measurement, for it is the neglect of this 

 that some legs are left shorter and some longer after fractures. Th^ 



