346 SPLINTS FOE FRACTURE OF THE LOWER JAW. 



formed of tinned iron, which fitted the posterior border of the lower 

 jaw. On the lower part were four rings for fastening to the halter 

 and to the animal's nose and head. Fractures in the inter-dental 

 space of the lower jaw may sometimes be reduced and fixed, by using 

 the teeth as points d'appui. Thus Delamotte bored a hole between 

 the first and second molars, and carried a wire thence around the 

 incisor teeth. The wire having been in position for three and a half 

 months, the fracture was found to be united. More recently bone 

 sutures have been successfully used. As a final resort, the body 

 of the bone may be resected without destroying the power to 

 masticate. This has been accomplished by more than one operator, 

 both in the case of the horse and dog. In treating fractures at the 

 height of the first molars, Ohlsen inserted an iron splint the shape 

 of an ordinary magnet, which was pushed into the mouth legs-fore- 

 most, and embraced the back teeth, holding both splint and bone 

 in position : unfortunately this method is liable to loosen the teeth. 

 After attending to diet, treatment of fractures in the neighbourhood 

 of the articulatory process becomes expectant. Hence it is generally 

 advisable to slaughter cattle early, rather than await an uncertain 

 healing process. It need scarcely be added that all compound 

 fractures must be treated on antiseptic principles. 



Littlewood saw double fracture of the lower jaw in a horse, the 

 maxilla being broken near the symphysis, and between the second 

 and third incisor teeth. The pieces of bone were replaced during 

 anaesthesia, a hole drilled through them, and a metal wire so inserted 

 as to fix them in position. The operation was completely successful. 



Cadiot and Dollar describe a case of double fracture of the lower 

 jaw — viz., through the neck and through the branch under the 

 masseter muscle — in an eight month old poodle, in consequence of 

 a kick from a horse. A dressing formed of layers of linen smeared 

 with pitch was applied, and further secured by bands of tarlatan 

 passed over the head and round the neck. A muzzle was eventually 

 applied. The patient was at first spoon-fed with liquid food and 

 afterwards with chopped lean meat. Union was complete in one 

 month, and the animal could take its ordinary food, though there 

 was a slight deformity from callus formation. 



(3.) DISLOCATION (LUXATION) OF THE LOWER JAW. 



This occurs in carnivora : the long coronoid process and limited 

 mobility of the joint render it impossible in herbivora unless after 

 fracture. Drovers' dogs, staghounds, and sporting dogs most fre- 



