FRACTURE OF THE PELVIC BONES. 123 



by the action of the abdominal muscles attached to it. In this 

 fracture we find the method of repair is by false joint, the frac- 

 tured ends being connected by a fibrous or a fibro-cartilaginous 

 tissue. This is due to the action of the muscles attached to the 

 fragments keeping them in a state of continual motion, and is 

 an example of arrested development of the reparative material ; 

 every otlier part of the process of repair may be complete but 

 that of ossification ; and the fragments are held together by a 

 yielding and pliant bond. 



There is very little treatment necessary in a case of this kind. 

 If the soft parts are injured, physic, fomentation, and a short 

 rest will be sufficient. 



l^ow and then, however, we meet with a case where no 

 attempt at repair is made, and the broken fragment or frag- 

 ments die, or become necrosed, giving rise to the formation of 

 sinuses both near to and below the seat of injury. In such a 

 case it will be necessary to remove the irritating fragments, 

 and treat according to the rules already laid down. 



Although a horse that is flat in the quarter may not be un- 

 sound, yet he is of less value in the market than if he were all 

 right. It is, therefore, of importance that the practitioner should 

 compare the two quarters of every horse he examines as to 

 soundness; and this should be done by standing behind the 

 horse examined. 



The next four forms of fracture of the pelvis present ex- 

 ternally symptoms similar to each other — namely, a flatness 

 of the surface of the quarter, and lameness, with great difficulty 

 in extending the foot, particularly if the toe strikes the ground. 



The exact seat of the fracture is to be determined by an 

 examination per rectum, when movement of the limb will 

 indicate this by crepitation and motion in the part. As a rule, 

 if the patient be laid, he will have great difficulty in rising ; if 

 through the acetabulum, he will scarcely be able to rise even 

 with assistance ; and when he is up, the limb is unable to bear 

 any weight, and it will be shorter than its fellow, from the head 

 of the femur being drawn upwards on to the dorsum of the 

 ilium by the action of the gluteal muscles. The trochanter will 

 be felt farther back and higher up than usual ; the toe will be 

 turned inwards, and rest upon the coronet of the opposite foot. 

 Fracture through the acetabulum is the only one where re- 



