FRACTURE OF THE ULNA. 



789 



beforehand or the dose of atropiii diminished. Moller saw no good 

 results from subcutaneous injection of common salt. A pure solution 

 produces no visible effect, whilst if the solution or s\Tinge is dirty, 

 extensive pus formation may ensue ; whatever efficacy the treatment 

 has, apparently, depends on its causing purulent inflammation. 

 The same objection applies to injections of turpentine and ether ; 

 and as they occasionally produce violent local action and necrosis, 

 their employment is dangerous. 



B. DISEASES OF THE ELBOW AND FORE-ARM. 

 I.— FRACTURE OF THE ULNA. 



Though seen in all species of animals fractures of the ulna are 

 rather rare except in horses. In horses the olecranon is generally 

 broken, in other animals the strongly de- 

 veloped body, as a consequence of external 

 violence, in the form of kicks, treads, or 

 falls. Jansen reports three cases, one 

 caused by falling and sliding along the 

 ground and two by kicks. Double-sided 

 fracture of the ulna was seen in a horse 

 which had passed the fore-feet through a 

 hay-rack. In general the olecranon breaks 

 completely off, loosening the lower point 

 of insertion of the extensors of the elbow, 

 and producing symptoms like those of 

 radial paralysis. 



Birrenbach saw complete fracture about 

 1£ inches below the joint. When, as is 

 generally the case, the fracture extends into 

 the elbow-joint, lameness and pain are 

 severe when weight is placed on the limb. 

 The displacement of bone can sometimes 

 be directly observed. 



Mann noticed permanent lameness and symptoms of radial 

 paralysis in a foal which had been kicked on the elbow. Post- 

 mortem showed that the ulna was completely broken off from the 

 radius, and that a space of nearly two inches existed between 

 them. In this case the transverse and interosseous ligaments must 

 have been ruptured. 



Prognosis and course. Union of transverse fracture of the ulna 

 is rare ; most horses suffering from it have sooner or later to be 



Fig. 463.— Fracture of the 

 ulna in a horse. 



