FRACTURES OF THE BONES OF THE HOCK. 985 



nutrition, and by the inability of large animals to stand continuously 

 on the other hind leg, though Brauer says he cured oxen in four 

 weeks by applying a plaster bandage. Detroye reports a similar 

 case in a steer : the lameness completely disappeared after a time. 

 Haase likewise reports union in the horse, though the case lasted 

 from twelve to fourteen weeks. It would be interesting to attempt 

 the reunion of fractured os calcis in the dog or other small animal 

 by wire sutures, or by screwing the fragments together with silvered 

 wood screws. This particular operation does not seem to have been 

 attempted hitherto. If would demand perfect technique, but 

 appears, a priori, within the range of possibility. 



The prognosis, therefore, depends, firstly, on the degree to which 

 the fragments are displaced (sometimes dislocation is minimised 

 by the insertion of the flexor pedis perforatus) ; and, secondly, on 

 the length of time during which the animal can stand on the other 

 foot without laminitis setting in. Compound fractures may generally 

 be looked on as incurable. 



Treatment is in general similar to that in rupture of the Achilles 

 tendon. In these cases also it is important to fix the hock- joint in 

 as complete extension as possible. Plaster bandages are useful 

 for small animals. 



(b) Fracture of the astragalus is also rare ; it follows forced rotary 

 movement of the limb whilst the animal's weight is upon it, or whilst 

 it is fixed to the ground. A heavy cart-horse was seen to produce 

 this fracture by suddenly turning round. A case of Furlanetto's in 

 a cow was caused by falling into a ditch. 



The symptoms are : sudden and severe lameness, shortly followed 

 by fluctuating painful swelling of the astragalo-tibial joint, similar 

 to that in inflammation of the hock-joint. Crepitation can sometimes 

 be detected by placing both hands around the joint and moving 

 the lower part of the limb. In other cases it is absent, and the 

 condition may be mistaken for violent strain of the joint, which, 

 however, is rare, or for severe subfascial cellulitis ; but as the latter 

 is accompanied by swelling of the local lymph vessels and by fever, 

 it is sufficiently distinct from fracture of the astragalus. 



Prognosis is nearly hopeless, because the fracture always extends 

 into the joint, recovery is extremely protracted, and no weight can 

 be placed on the limb. It is therefore better to slaughter large animals 

 without delay. An attempt at treatment may be made in cats and 

 dogs by applying a plaster bandage, which should be put on whilst 

 the leg is moderately extended, so as to limit as far as possible the 

 lameness which will result from obliteration of the joint. The cases 



