LAMENESS: ITS CAUSES AND TREATMENT, 329 



the bones of the fsice; those of tho ilium: aiiil ihiit of tlie oollinbones. 

 To continuo the cjite«rorv, the foHow in«r are eviik'ntly cunil>le when 

 their position anil the character of the patient contribute to aid the 

 treatment: Those of the cranium, in the absence of cerebral lesions; 

 those of the jaws; of the ribs, with displacement; of the hip; and 

 those of the bones of the \og in movable regions, but where their 

 vertical position admits of perfect coaptation. 



On the contrary, a compound, complicated, or conuuinutcd frac- 

 ture, in whatever rejrion it may be sitiuited, may be counted incurable. 



In treatinir fractures time is an important element and " delays are 

 dangerous." Those of recent occurrence unite more easily and more 

 regularly than older ones. 



(•J) As a general rule, fractures are less serious in animals of the 

 smaller species than in those of more bulky dimensions. This in- 

 fluence of species will be readily appreciated when we realize that the 

 difficulties involved in the treatment of the latter class have hardly 

 any existence in connection with the former. The difference in 

 weight and size, and consequent facility in handling and making the 

 necessary api^lications of dressings and other appliances for the pur- 

 pose of securing the indis})ens;dde immobility of the parts, and 

 usiuilly a less degree of uneasiness in the deportment of the patients 

 are considerations in this connection of great weight. 



{'.V) In resi>ect to the utilization of the animal, the most ob\ iou.s 

 point in estimating the gravity of the case in a fracture accident is 

 the certainty of the total loss of the services of the patient during 

 treatment — certainly for a considerable period of time; perhai)s i)ei- 

 manently. For e.xample, the fracture of the jaw of a steer just 

 fattening for the shambles will involve a heavier loss than a similai- 

 accident to a horse. I'sually the fracture of the bones of the extiem- 

 ities in a horse is a very serious casualty, the more so j)roportionately 

 as the higher region of the limb is affected. In working animals it 

 is exceedingly ddlicult to treat a fi-acture in such manner as to re- 

 store a limb to its original perfection of movement. A fnicture of a 

 single bone of an extremity in a breeding stallion or mare will not 

 nece>«sarily imi)air the \alue of the animal as a bleeder. Other speci- 

 fications under this head, though pertinent and more or less interest- 

 ing, may be f)mitted. 



(4) Age and temper are important factors of cure. A young. 

 growing, robust patient whose vis vita3 is active is amenable to tieat- 

 ment which one with a waning constitution and past mature eneigiei* 

 would be unable to endure, and a docile, <iuiet disposition will act 

 cooperatively with remedial measures which would be neutralized by 

 the fractious opposition of a peevish and intnictable siiffeicr. 



The fidfillmentof three indications isindispen.sable in all fractures. 

 The fir.<t is the reduction, or the replacement, of the parts as nearly 



