244 



OPERATIONS ON BONES. 



Fig. 265.— Transverse Fracture of the Scapula. 



subjects. The causes are heavy blows or kicks, and violent 

 coUisions with iinjaeldiug objects. Those which are occasioned 

 by falls are generally at the neck of the bone, and of the trans- 

 verse and comminuted varieties. 



The diagnosis is not always easy. The symptoms are inabihty 

 to rest the leg on the ground and to carry weights, and they are 

 present in various degrees from slight to severe. The leg rests 

 upon the toe and seems shortened, locomotion is performed by 

 jumps. Movuig the leg while examining it and raising the foot 

 for inspection seem to produce much pain and cause the animal 

 to rear. Crepitation is readily felt with the hand upon the 

 shoulder when the leg is moved. If the fractui-e occvirs in the 

 upper part of the bone, overlapping of the fragments and dis- 

 jjlacement will be considerable. 



The fractm-e of this bone is usually classed among the more 

 serious accidents, though cases may occui- which are followed by 

 recovery without very serious ultimate results, especially when 

 the seat of the injury is at some of the upper angles of the bone, 

 or about the acromion crest. But if the neck and the joint are 



