lameness: its causes and treatment. 347 



to the size of the animal, softened in hiUewaiiu water, is, when sntti- 

 ciently pliable, molded on the outsitle of the let;, and wlu-n suddenly 

 hardened by the ai)i)lication of cold water forms a complete casing 

 suflioiently rig^id to resist all motion. Patients treated in this manner 

 have been able to use the limb freely, without ])ain, inuuediatt'ly after 

 the aj^plication of the dressing;. The removal of the splint is easily 

 effected by cuttin«j: it away, either wholly or in sections, after soften- 

 ing it by immersin*; the le<j; in a warm bath. 



fracture of thk knee. 



This accident, happily, is of rare occurrence, but when it takes 

 })lace is of a severe character, and always accompanied with syno- 

 vitis, with disease of the joint. 



Caujic. — It may be caused by falling? upon a hard surface, and is 

 usually compound and comminuted. Healing seldom occin'.s, and 

 when it does there is usually a stiffness of the joint from arthritis. 



Sifmpfanh'i. — As a result of this fracture there is inability to bear 

 weight on the foot. The leg is flexed as in com])lete radial paralysis, 

 or fracture of the idna. There is abnormal mobility of the bones of 

 the knee, but crepitation is usually absent. 



Prof/ru^ft/s. — Healing is hard to effect, as one part of the knee is 

 drawn u])ward by the two flexor muscles which separate it from the 

 lower part. The callus which forms is largely fibrous, and if the 

 animal is put to work too (piickly this callus is liable to rupture. In 

 favoiable cases healing takes ])lace in two or three months. Many 

 horses during the treatment develop founder, with conse<|uent diop 

 sole in the sound leg. as a residt of- pressuie due to continuous 

 standing. 



Tj'catm^'nf. — Place the animal in tlie slings. l)ring the ]>ieces of 

 bone together if possible, and try to keej) them in place by a tight 

 plaster-of-Paris dressing about the leg, extending down to the fet- 

 lock. Place the animal in a roomy box stall well jirovided with 

 bedding so that he can lie down, to ]irevent founder. 



FRACTURE OF THE FEMUR. 



The protection which this bone receives fiom the large mass of 

 muscles in which it is enveloped does not suffice to invest it with 

 immunity in regard to fractures. 



Cause. — It contributes its share to the list of accidents of this 

 description, sometimes in consequence of external violence and .some- 

 times as the result of muscular contraction : sometimes its takes ])lace 

 at the upper extremity of the bone; sometimes at the lower; some- 

 times at the head, when the condyles become implicated: but it is 

 principally found in the body or diaphysis. The fracture may i)e 



