294 CHAPTER 36. 



CHAPTER 36. 

 FRACTURES OF BOXES. 



584. Of Fractures. 585. Causes of Fractures. 586. Symptoms of 

 Fracture. 587. Treatment. 588. Fracture of the Pelvis. 589. Fracture 

 of the Pastern bones. 590. Broken ribs. 591. Fracture of the Nasal 

 bones. 592. Fracture of the Jaw. 593. Partial fracture of the Tibia. 

 594. Fracture of the Shoulder-blade. 



584 Of Fractures. 



Fractures are termed Simple, when the bone is broken, but the skin is 

 unbroken; Compound, when the fractured ends protrude through the 

 skin ; Single, when only one fracture has taken place ; Comminuted, 

 when the bone is broken in several parts ; and Complicated, when there 

 is laceration of an artery or other additional injury. 



In the human subject, the treatment of broken bones is comparatively 

 easy, because the patient can be placed without difficulty or opposition 

 on his part, on his back in bed, the position most favorable for relieving 

 the broken limb of all weight and pressure. Whilst in this position, 

 splints and other restraints can be conveniently imposed, and the patient 

 is blessed with sense enough to induce him to submit to such restraints 

 and to remain quiet. 



In the horse, we have none of these advantages. We cannot without 

 hurtful violence throw the animal on his back, nor can we by any per- 

 suasion induce him voluntarily to remain in that position. Hence, 

 fractures of important bones are generally incurable. In most cases, 

 therefore, of such injuries it is better to have the animal destroyed at 

 once. 



Again, the horse is an animal, whose value as a general rule consists 

 in his power of locomotion. In man on the other hand the surgeon, 

 though he may not be able to make a perfect cure, is often well content 

 if he can produce such reunion of the bones, as may enable the patient, 

 in case of broken leg for instance, to walk about. A horse is of no value 

 unless he can walk, trot, and gallop sound and level. An exception, 

 however, to this general rule occurs in the case of valuable brood mares 

 or stallions. 



As regards the reparative powers of Nature, there is no very great 

 difficulty in bringing about reunion even of important bones ; but on 

 account of the restlessness of the animal, and from the difficulty of 

 applying restraints and splints, and the further impossibility in many 

 cases of taking all weight off the injured part, it is not probable that the 

 bones will reunite so perfectly evenly as to render the action true and 

 level. 



