84 FRACTURES AND DISEASES OF BONES. 



parts which surround the broken bones- can prove an impedi- 

 ment to their proper adjustment. When swelling and tension 

 are actually present, no time should be lost in vain attempts to 

 allay these by means of fomentations, &c., but the practitioner 

 must at once reduce the fracture — the horse being first placed 

 in sKngs (see Frontispiece) — and place the limb in a steady and 

 fixed position by means of splints and bandages. The source of 

 irritation being thus removed, the swelling will soon disappear. 

 The best material for splints is strong leather, what is called 

 " bend-leather," the pieces being made sufficiently long to extend 

 to a distance beyond the fractured ends of the bones, and broad 

 enough to envelop and enclose the whole circumference of the 

 limb. Holes may be cut in the leather where the splints pass 

 over any sharp eminence, as, for example, over the trapezium 

 in the knee. Gutta-percha is recommended by some prac- 

 titioners, and it answers very well, but I prefer the strong 

 leather. Before it is applied, it should be well soaked in warm 

 water ; when thus softened, it may be moulded to the shape of 

 the limb with the greatest ease. The splints are to be retained 

 in their position by bandages. When swelling and tension are 

 present before the fracture is reduced, the splints may be main- 

 tained in position by the looped bandage; which consists of 

 strips of calico, about two or three inches broad, and long enough 

 when folded double to pass round the limb, with a few inches 

 of excess; one of the ends is then drawn through the loop, 

 and tied to the other. This bandage is useful when the 

 degree of tightness requires to be altered, but it must be 

 replaced by the common roller, as soon as the swelling has 

 subsided, and supplemented by one or two layers of bandages 

 saturated with starch, dextrine — or what answers the purpose 

 equally well, and is much cheaper — flour paste, made by boihng 

 flour in water. When dry, the bandages become immoveable, 

 and support the limb so effectually, that the animal soon 

 puts weight upon it. In using the starch bandage, great care 

 is requisite in its adjustment: it must not press unequally 

 upon any part of the limb, all hollows are to be padded with 

 tow, and it must never project beyond the extremities of the 

 dry bandages; or its edges, becoming hardened, may cut 

 and wound the skin, causing irritation and pain ; rendering 

 the patient uneasy, feverish, and the limb liable to mortifi- 



