20 FRACTURES. 



LOCAL AFFECTIONS. 



FRACTURES. 



Although oxen, sheep, goats, and pigs are much less siihject to 

 fractures than the horse and dog, nevertheless, they do suffer from 

 such accidents. Eepair is perfectly possible, but the cases are often not 

 worth treating, unless the subjects are young or of considerable value. 

 On the other hand, in fat and heavy subjects, it is difficult to fix the 

 parts in position. Slinging produces l)ad results, and generally should 

 not be encouraged. 



Apart from fractures accompanying general chronic diseases, like 

 rachitis and osseous cachexia, the vertebra, the pelvis, the ribs, or any 

 of the limb bones, may be fractured in consequence of accident. 



Such fractures may be either complete or incomplete (fissures), 

 simple or compound. 



The general signs which indicate fracture are always the same, viz., 

 loss of function, local pain, abnormal mobility, crepitation, due to rubbing 

 together of the ends of the bones, and deformity of the part. Diagnosis 

 is generally easy ; i^rognosis on the other hand is very variable. 



The vertebral column may be accidentally fractured in the region of 

 the neck in consequence of the animal falling on its head ; in the dorso- 

 lumbar region, from falling into ditches or ravines, or, in the case of 

 bulls fighting, from violent muscular efforts. Fractures of the first 

 kind are immediately fatal ; those of the second result in paraplegia 

 of the hind limbs, and necessitate immediate slaughter. 



Fractures of the pelvis comprise :— 



1. Fractures of the angle of the haunch, resulting from external 

 violence and characterised by sinking of the external angle of the 

 ilium, deformity of the hip, and lameness without specially marked 

 characters. This fracture is rarely complicated. The symptoms of 

 lameness diminish with rest, but deformity continues. 



2. Fractures of the floor of the pelvis, usually extending from the 

 anterior margin of the pubis to the foramen ovale and from the 

 posterior margin of the foramen ovale to the end of the symphysis. 

 They result from obstetrical manipulation, as in forcibly removing a 

 foetus which is too large, or a monstrosity. As a rule, the animals 

 cannot rise, or if they succeed in doing so, are incapable of moving. 

 Diagnosis is made by exploration through the rectum. Such fractures 

 always necessitate slaughter. 



Fractures of the neck of the ilium and of the base of the cotyloid 

 cavity, even in cases of dislocation, are rare despite what has been 

 said to the contrary. 



