FRACTURES. 179 



Treatment. — On account of the presence of the powerful 

 muscles of the part it is a matter of extreme difficulty to 

 get a proper union of the fractured ends. The patient 

 should be placed in a quiet, airy, loose-box, and kept as 

 quiet as possible. In a great many cases union takes place 

 not by the aid of ossific material, but a fibro-cartilaginous 

 deposit is made, constituting a union by what is known 

 as ' false joint.' This should always be looked for and 

 pointed out in making an examination as to sound- 

 ness. If the animal is not kept quiet, caries or necrosis 

 may set in, rendering it necessary to open up the parts 

 and remove any diseased or detached portions of bone 

 that may be found. In some cases suppuration occurs 

 and a discharge takes place, and persists for months, or 

 a discharge may last a week or two and the parts heal, 

 and in another week or so suppuration reappear. This 

 may go on for an indefinite period. In such a case the 

 probability is that there is a piece of detached bone or 

 other foreign substance there which is keeping up the 

 irritation, and the treatment is to open up the parts and 

 remove the offending agent. After the animal recovers it 

 does not seem to interfere with his action or usefulness to 

 any great extent, and consequently he should not be much 

 depreciated in value, if depreciated at aU. 



Fracture of the dorsum of the ilium is generally due to 

 muscular contraction, a fall, etc. When this fracture occurs 

 the haunch immediately falls, on account of contraction of 

 the muscles of the part. There is also swelling, which is 

 very extensive in some cases. 



Treatment. — The animal is to be kept as quiet as possible. 

 It may be necessary to sling the patient, after which use 

 fomentations and apply plasters and charges. 



Fracture of the shaft of the ilium is caused by falls, 

 muscular contraction, etc. This fracture is usually of an 



12—2 



