CHAPTEE VI. 



OPERATIONS ON BONES. 



FEACTURES. 



In technical language a fracture is a '• solution of continuity in 

 the structure or substance of a bone," and it ranks among the 

 most serious of the lesions to which the horse — or any animal — 

 can be subject. It is a subject of special interest to veterinarians, 

 and to horse owners as well, in view of the variety of forms in 

 which it may occur, as well as of the loss of time to which it sub- 

 jects the patient, and the consequent suspension of his earning 

 capacity. Though of less serious consequence in the horse than 

 in man, it is always a matter of grave import. It 

 is always slow and tedious in healing, and is fre- 

 quently of doubtful and unsatisfactory result. 



This solution of continuity may take place in 

 two principal ways. In the most numerous in- 

 stances it includes the total thickness of the bone 

 and is a compUte fractiu-e. In other cases it in 

 volves a portion only of the thickness of the bone, 

 and for that reason is described as 

 incom2')lete (Fig. 250). If the bone 

 is divided into two separate portions, 

 and the soft parts have received no 

 injury, the fracture is a simj^le one ; 

 or it becomes comjyound if the soft 

 parts have suffered laceration, and 

 comminuted if the bones have been 

 crushed or ground into fragments, 

 many or few. The direction of the 

 break also determines its further 

 classification. Broken at a right an- 

 p-le, it is transverse (Fig. 251) ; at a 



Fig. 249.— Complete °' ° 



Fracture different angle it becomes oblique 



