128 PARTICULAR FRACTURES. 



FRACTURE OF THE TIBIA. 



Perhaps this is the most common form of fracture met with 

 ill the extremities, arising from kicks, and occurring most 

 frequently when a number of horses are turned out to grass. 

 The kick is delivered from the side opposite to the fractured 

 limb, and descends upon the internal surface of the tibia, where 

 it is covered entirely by skin, fascia, and strong periosteum. 

 'No other symptom of tliis fracture than a small punctured 

 wound may be present, the animal exhibiting little or no lame- 

 ness, although the fracture may be extensive. The fracture is 

 generally very oblique, and the periosteum being strong, the 

 ends are not separated. Many cases are on record where horses 

 have worked at all kinds of labour for days after the receipt 

 of injury without manifesting any signs of lameness, until by 

 a sudden twist of the limb separation has taken place. Another 

 cause of displacement is the animal's lying down ; when he 

 attempts to rise, the broken ends are forced asunder, perhaps 

 a sharp-pointed extremity of the broken bone driven outwards 

 through the skin, rendering the case almost beyond remedial 

 measures. All cases of punctured wounds of this part, from 

 the violence of kicks, should be treated as if the bone were 

 fractured, until the practitioner is perfectly satisfied upon the 

 matter. The patient should be put in the slings, and kept 

 there until the wound is perfectly healed, and the horse quite 

 free from lameness. If there be no fracture, but little thicken- 

 ing will be left after the subsidence of the inflammation ; but 

 if there be a fracture, the veterinarian will be able to detect 

 the presence of the provisional callus. Non-attention to these 

 practical points has caused the destruction of many valuable 

 horses. There is little danger of displacement if the patient 

 be kept in the slings; but if quite sure that fractures exist, 

 the tarred cord should be applied round the leg from the foot 

 upwards, as high up on the thigh as possible. Some portion of 

 the fragments may thus be included in the cord, for it must be 

 remembered that the cleavage, being oblique, will extend for 

 some distance both above and below the actual wound. 



If displacement has occurred before measures can be applied, 

 it will be found almost an impossibility, unless the patient be 

 very young, to perform reduction ; and the best course wiU be 



