FRACTURE OP THE FEMUR. 929 



associated with the fracture. Heuberger, in a horse, saw complete 

 union of a fracture of the upper trochanter. 



Treatment is confined to resting the animal, and if a horse, to 

 placing it in slings. The methods of reduction often described are 

 usually inadmissible ; even in dogs the muscles of the quarter are 

 comparatively powerful, and oppose great resistance to manipulation. 

 The extension and counter-extension recommended often result 

 in thrusting the fragments further apart. In dogs it is best to 

 approximately replace the parts, and then to apply a plaster bandage, 

 starting from the metatarsus and extending as high up the limb as 

 possible, fastening it in position by a so-called " saddle." The 

 bandage is passed over the back and around the limb of the opposite 

 side, to prevent it slipping down. This method often succeeds in 

 dogs, but also at times fails. In man, and also in dogs, surgeons 

 have been successful in curing fracture by screwing together the 

 portions of the shaft of the femur with silvered steel screws. By 

 observing strict asepsis the wounds heal readily and the fracture 

 reunites. 



In larger animals both reduction and retention are much more 

 difficult, though the former is to some extent assisted by anaesthesia. 

 The bandages and dressings which are often described can seldom 

 be adjusted in such a way as to give a secure hold without setting up 

 injurious pressure. Unfortunately, at the present day, consideration 

 of economy generally renders treatment out of the question. 



Ruminants and swine require rest and a comfortable stall, with 

 plenty of litter like peat-moss, and, to prevent their being annoyed 

 by others, pigs should be placed in separate stalls. 



To prevent fracture of the femur when casting horses the so-called 

 " leg twitch " can be strongly recommended. A strong cord is 

 passed round the leg about 6 or 7 inches above the hock, a strong 

 stick 2 feet in length pushed through it, and the cord twisted tight, 

 so as to press the Achilles tendon against the tibia. Any attempt 

 to extend the limb gives considerable pain on account of the pressure 

 of the twitch, and the animal soon ceases to make further efforts. 

 In addition, the twitch directly checks the action of the extensor. 



In an old horse with recent fracture of the lower trochanter of 

 the right femur the forward stride was shortened about a quarter 

 of its normal length. As the animal carefully avoided bending the 

 stifle joint, the toe grazed the ground. In advancing, the stifle 

 described a curve outwards, though the upper part of the limb was 

 adducted. When weight was thrown on the diseased limb, or when 

 the right fore foot was lifted, the opposite quarter sank until the 



R.S. 3 o 



