FRACTURE OF THE PELVIS, TAIL, LIMBS. 337 



ribs, commonly oblique. They are occasionally broken into splin- 

 ters, and if tliosc splinters are directed inward, they may seriously 

 wound the pleura or lungs. In order most certainly to detect the 

 situation and extent of these fractures, it may be necessary to 

 trace the rib through its whole extent, and, should there be any 

 irregularity, to press firmly upon it above and below in order to 

 ascertain the nature and extent of the injury. 



If fracture is detected, it is not often that much essential good 

 can be done. If there is little or no displacement, a broad roller 

 should be tightly drawn round the chest, in order to prevent as 

 much as possible the motion of the ribs in the act of breathing, 

 and to throw the labor on the diaphragm and the abdominal 

 muscles until tlie ti:actured parts are united. If the fractured 

 parts )jTotrucle outwards, a firm compress must be placed upon 

 them. Ii they are depressed, it will always be advisable to place 

 a firm bandage over the seat of fracture, although, perhaps, there 

 may be scarcely the possibility of elevating them to any consid- 

 erable degree. Should much irritation be the consequence of the 

 nature or direction of the fracture, prqper means must be adopted 

 to allay the coiisititutional disturbance that may be produced. 

 General or local bleedij,igs will be most serviceable. 



Fracture of ihe pelvis. — This is not of frequent occurrence, 

 on account of the thickness of the soft parts which surround the 

 pelvis, and protect it from injury, but it is of a serious character 

 when it does take place, on account of the violence which must 

 have been necessary to produce it. The usual cases are falls from 

 a considerable height, or heavy blows on the pelvis. The injury 

 may have reference to the internal or external portion of the pel- 

 vis. In the first case, the danger may not be discovered until ir- 

 reparable mischief is produced. When it is chiefly external, the 

 altered appearance of the hip speaks for itself It is rarely in our 

 power to aflbrd any assistance in cases like this, except when there 

 are fractured portions of the bone that may be partially or entirely 

 removed, or the projecting spine of the ilium is only partially 

 fractured. 



Fracture of the tail. — This accident is not of frequent oc- 

 currence, except from accidental entanglement, or the application 

 of brute force. The fracture is easily recognized, frequently by 

 the eye and always by the fingers. If the tail is not amputat(?d, 

 a cord passed over a pulley, and with a small weight attached to 

 it, will bring the separated bones again into apposition, and in 

 about a month the natural cartilage of the part will be sufficiently 

 reinstated. 



Fractures of the limbs. — These, fortunately, are of rare oc- 

 currence in the horse, for although their divided edges might 

 be easily brought again into apposition, it would be almost in«- 

 22 O 



