COMPOUND FRACTURES. 87 



used to keep the fractured ends in their proper position, and 

 splints must be applied. An aperture must be made in that 

 portion of the splint covering the wound, so as to render its 

 removal unnecessary during dressing, and to allow the escape of 

 any discharge which may occur. By these means a compound 

 fracture may be changed into a simple one — the wound uniting 

 by adhesion. The constitutional disturbance must be mitigated 

 by attention to the bowels (a small dose of physic may be 

 given), by allowing the lightest possible diet, and by allay- 

 ing the pain, if extreme, by opium ; every unnecessary move- 

 ment being at the same time avoided. When immediate union of 

 the wound is not obtained, the practitioner need not despair, 

 provided the constitutional irritation and pain be not extreme, 

 nor the discharge from the wound excessive. When suppura- 

 tion from the wound has taken place, the parts are to be 

 bathed with tepid water, and the bandage over the wound 

 kept constantly wet by the process of irrigation, to be described 

 hereafter. No pus should be allowed to remain about the 

 wound. All soiled dressings must be avoided; the weak car- 

 bolic acid solution must be applied frequently ; and in some 

 cases it will be requisite to syringe any pus-containing cavities 

 with this remedy. The animal's strength must now be kept 

 up by generous food ; the stable or box kept sweet and 

 well ventilated. If due attention be paid in all these re- 

 spects, a recovery may be the reward. But too commonly 

 unpropitious symptoms arise about the third day after the 

 accident ; the limb swells considerably ; the discharge becomes 

 profuse, thin, sanious, and foetid; there is great pain mani- 

 fested; the fever runs high, the breathing hurried; the pulse 

 is quick, and the appetite lost. In such a case an unsuccessful 

 termination may be looked for, and it is better to anticipate it, 

 and save the poor animal mach suffering, by ordering its de- 

 struction. In horned cattle and dogs amputation has been 

 performed, and the animals have gone about on three legs 

 afterwards. I remember seeing a cow in a drove en route 

 to London from Wales with a wooden leg, amputation having 

 been performed above the knee. 



SEPARATION OF THE EPIPHYSES. 



Before the epiphyses are ossified to their shafts, they are apt 



