FRACTURE OF THE RADIUS. 791 



with intact ulna unite, in carnivora and ruminants, in three to six 

 weeks. Should the ulna be simultaneously fractured, proper 

 treatment may be succeeded by recovery in four to eight weeks ; 

 and although in ruminants and swine repair is more difficult, it is 

 by no means impossible. In horses, however, complete fractures 

 of the radius must be viewed as relatively incurable, particularly 

 when impacted, or near the epiphysis ; in oblique fracture of the 

 diaphysis, recovery may occur if the animal can be kept perfectly 

 quiet, and if able to stand long enough on the other leg. 



An English thoroughbred mare with transverse fracture of the 

 radius and rupture of the carpal ligaments recovered sufficiently 

 for breeding purposes. 



Compound fractures of the radius in the horse must be viewed 

 as incurable, though in small animals they are rather more hopeful. 



Treatment. Reduction is effected according to the general 

 principles already laid down, and succeeds best under anaesthesia. 

 Before applying the plaster bandage, the operator must make sure 

 that the leg occupies its normal position, and is neither in a condition 

 of supination nor of pronation. The position of the other leg should 

 guide the dresser. In carnivora, the plaster bandage includes both 

 the elbow- and knee- joints. In larger animals it must reach at 

 least to the knee, and to prevent its sliding down for want of a fixed 

 point, the shank and pastern should be covered with a stable- 

 bandage. 



Large animals should be kept in slings. Ordinary splints are 

 seldom of much use, but felt and poroplastin have been used with 

 advantage. In treating an oblique fracture, the animal was placed 

 in slings on the second day, reduction effected, and after applying 

 wadding and gauze bandages, a piece of moistened felt was fixed 

 in position by linen bandages. Complete recovery followed in three 

 months. A number of successful cases in the horse have been 

 reported by French practitioners. In most instances after reducing 

 the displacement the limb was enveloped in masses of tow, saturated 

 with white of egg and alum, or in bandages treated with a resinous 

 solution. Over these were applied wooden splints, retained in 

 position with a further series of bandages. In some cases it was 

 found needful to pass the bandages over the shoulder in order to 

 prevent the dressing slipping down. Some operators used plaster 

 bandages. The dressings were left in position for one to two months. 

 A more or less extensive callus remained, and the horse usually 

 continued lame, but in the majority of reported cases became sound 

 after firing. It must not be forgotten, however, that the failures 



