LAMENESS: ITS CM'SKS AND TREATMENT. 335 



sity and there need be no haste for removal or ehan<j:e except under 

 such special conditions as have just been mentioned, or >vhen there is 

 reason to jud^xe tliat solidilieation has heconie perfect, oi' for the com- 

 fort of the animal, oi* for its rea(hii)tation in consecjuence of the 

 atrophy of the limb from want of use. Owners of animals are often 

 temj>ted to remove a sjilint or handa<re pivmatui-ely at the lisk of pro- 

 ducin*; a second fracture in consequence of the failure «)f the callus 

 properly to consolidate. 



The method of applyin*; the splints which we have described refers 

 to the simple variety only. In a compound case the same rules nm.st 

 be observed, with the modification of leavin*? openings through the 

 thickness of the dressinjr. opposite the wound, in oi-der to i>ei-mit the 

 escape of pus and to secure access to the points requiring the apjdica- 

 tion of treatment. 



FRACTURE OF CRANIAL BONES. 



Fractures of the cranial bones in lar<::e animals are comparatively 

 rare, thou<ih the records are. not destitute of cases. When they occui-. 

 it is as the result of external violence, the .sufferers beings usually run- 

 aways whicli have come in collision with a wall or a tiee or othei- 

 obstruction, or it may occur in those which in judlinfl^ upon the halter 

 have broken it with a jerk and been thrown backward, as may occur 

 in rearin*:: too violently. Tender these conditions we have witnessed 

 fractures of the parietal, of the fiontal. and of the sphenoid bones. 

 These fractures may be of both the complete and the incomplete 

 kinds, which indeed is usually the case with those of the flat bones, 

 and they are liable to be comjilicated with lacerations of the skin, 

 in consequence of which they are easily broufifht under observation. 

 When the fact is otherwise and the skin is intact, however, the diag- 

 nosis l>ecomes difficult. 



Symptomft. — The incomplete variety may be unaccompanied with 

 nny special .symptoms, but in the complete kind one of the bony plates 

 may be so far detached as to press upon the cerebral sub.stance with 

 sufficient force to pioduce serious nervous conq)Iications. When the 

 injury occurs at the base of the cranium hemorrhage may be looked 

 for, with paralytic symptoms, and when these are pre^sent the usual 

 termination is death. Tt may happen, however, that the symptoms of 

 an apparently very severe concussion may disajipeai-. resulting in an 

 early and complete recovery, and the .surge«m will therefore do well 

 to avoid undue haste in venturing upon a prognosis. Tn fractures of 

 the orbital or the zygomatic bones the danger is le<s ]>ressing thati 

 with injuries otherwise located about the head. 



Trcntment. — The treatment of cranial fractures is siriq)l«'. (hough 

 involving the best skill of an experienced surgeon. When incotuplete 

 hardly any interference is needed: even plain bandaging may u.sually 



