DISEASES OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 93 



Frontal Bones are liable to fracture in the same manner as the 

 nasal bones. It looks like rather a serious injury, but as a general 

 thing it is not so serious as it looks. The treatment varies according 

 to the character of the fracture. As a general thing the bones are 

 not displaced to any great extent ; they may be shattered ; the symp- 

 toms are plain ; in respiration and expiration, the bones may be 

 raised and lowered, and there may be hemorrhage from the nose, but 

 is not generally very serious. Keep quiet and use an adhesive plaster 

 over the frontal bones, either longitudinally or transversely, to keep 

 the bones in position ; but if the bones are fractured and displaced, 

 and there is an opening into the frontal sinus, yet there is no cause 

 for alarm. The treatment is to remove any detached parts, and at 

 first there may be difficulty in getting every piece, but in a day or two 

 there may be some pieces that can be removed. Apply a plaster, 

 leaving a small hole at the inferior part, to allow the matter to escape. 

 In six or eight days there may be diffuse suppuration and it may be 

 necessary to examine closely and remove any pieces, or it may cause 

 nasal gleet. The inner plate of the frontal bone may be fractured, 

 when it is more serious, and generally gives rise to more or less 

 cerebral disturbance. The animal is dull, but can be easily excited. 

 Keep quiet and attend to the cerebral symptoms, and recovery may 

 result ; or he may do tolerably well for some time, and then show 

 cerebral symptoms, and death result. You cannot be too careful with 

 such cases. 



External Orbital Process. — It may be fractured, but it takes a 

 pretty violent blow. Inflammation is set up, and necrosis is very apt to 

 result, and it is likely to afl'ect the eyeball, followed by slight inflamma- 

 tion and opacity of the cornea. Bring the bones in position ; keep quiet, 

 and perhaps give a dose of physic, and endeavour to remove the irritation 

 of the eyeball by poulticing, opium, etc. 



Zygoiuotic Process, when fractured, is very likely to be followed by 

 necrosis. Keunion may take place. Keep quiet for two or three weeks ; 

 if not, necrosis is likely to take place, giving rise to an abscess, sinuses, 

 etc.; and necrosis is often the result of inflammation without fracture. 



Parietal Bones. — Fracture of these is very liable to injure the brain. 

 It is possible for it to occur and not seriously injure the brain, but not 

 very probable. These bones are not very strong of themselves, they are 

 protected by muscles, which prevent fracture to a great extent. Fracture 

 of these bones is generally the result of violent injury, and there is gener- 

 ally more or less concussion of the brain : the animal falls, gets up again, 

 but is in a semi-comatose condition ; exhibits cerebral disturbance now 

 and again. Treatment is not attended with much success ; it is usually 

 followed by inflammation of the brain. It has been recommended to cut 

 down and remove the portion that presses upon the brain, but it is not 

 attended with much success in the horse ; but there may be cases where 

 it is advisable to do it. A fracture may occur and produce cerebral dis- 

 turbance, and the patient recover, but it is not a general thing. 



• Occipital Bone — the occipital crest. Fracture of this usually occurs 

 from the animal raising the head and striking it against something, or 

 from falling back and striking the ground. If a slight fracture, reunion 

 may take place. An animal may fall or strike this, stun himself, get 

 better and nothing is thought of it ; but irritation is set up ; there is 

 swelling between the ears, suppuration, etc., showing that there is caries 

 and necrosis ; treat as such. I have met with cases where it was neces- 

 sary to remove a great part of the crest ; or scraping will do in some 

 cases. You may have this irritation without fracture. 



