440 DISEASES OF CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS, ETC. 



and foot to assume positions in their relations to other parts of the 

 body which otherwise would be impossible. If the fractured bone is 

 so situated that the parts may be moved one upon another, a grating 

 sound, known as crepitus, will be observed. 



GENERAL TREATMENT OF FRACTURES. 



When a fracture occurs, the advisability of attempting treat- 

 ment must first be determined. If the animal be young, valuable, 

 and of reasonably quiet temperament, and the fracture not too great 

 in extent, the chances of recovery are fair. On the other hand, if 

 the animal should be of little value, irritable, advanced in years, and 

 the fracture a serious compound or comminuted one, the wiser course 

 would generally be to put the creature out of its misery. Having 

 determined to attempt treatment, no time should be lost in restoring 

 the parts as nearly as possible to their natural position and retaining 

 them there. If the ends of the bones have been drawn past one 

 another, they should, by firm and continuous tension, be drawn out 

 until they again assume the position in which they were before the 

 accident. All this can better be done before the swelling (which is 

 sure to result) takes place. If the swelling has occurred before the 

 injury is noticed, do not attempt to treat it, but proceed at once to 

 treat the fracture as though the swelling were not present, for no step 

 can be taken toward recovery until the ends of the bone have been 

 restored to their proper position. When that is done and proper 

 appliances have been used to prevent them from being again mis- 

 placed, the swelling, which is the result of irritation, will be relieved. 

 In selecting the appliances to be used in the treatment of fracture 

 the judgment and ingenuity of the operator are of much importance. 

 Splints, made of wood shaped to fit the limb and padded with soft 

 material where they come in contact with bony prominences, and 

 held in position by means of bandages, are the oldest method, and 

 with some are still the most popular. The fracture pads used in hu- 

 man surgery, and for sale in surgical depots, are very convenient. 

 After being dipped in water they may be molded to fit the limb and 

 be retained by means of bandages. Heavy sole leather is also used 

 after being soaked in warm water and molded to the shape of the 

 limb and holes cut in it to fit over any sharp irregularities in the 

 natural shape of the bones. Gutta-percha sheets are also used and 

 answer well. They are prepared and used in the same way as the 

 leather. 



Another and perhaps the simplest of all methods is the applica- 

 tion of a plaster of Paris bandage, which is made as follows : Strips of 

 thin cheese cloth 3 inches wide and 8 or 9 feet long are laid flat on a 

 board and on them is spread a layer of plaster of Paris about one- 

 eighth of an inch thick, then, starting at one end, roll carefully so as 

 to gather the plaster in between the layers of the bandage. It is of 

 course important that the cloth be thin and the plaster of Paris fresh 

 and active. After preparing four or five of such bandages the opera- 

 tor is ready to dress the fracture, which, after the parts have been 

 brought into position, should be done by covering all that part of the 

 limb to which the plaster of Paris bandage is to be applied with a sin- 



