PARTICULAR FRACTURES. 243 



ment at all, had united in such a manner as very much to shorten the 

 neck, and, consequently, to throw it on one side. The horse (five 

 years old) was in fat working condition, and (Mr. C. said) a most useful 

 animal ; no complaints were made about its feeding. 



Fractures are detected by grasping one side of the jaw at its projecting 

 angle with one hand, and moving it in different directions, while the 

 other is applied to the fore part, with a view of feeling crepitation. When 

 displacement exists, the fracture becomes more obvious. .In cases of 

 simple fracture without displacement, a bandage is required. For the 

 kind of bandage necessary on this and other occasions, that must depend 

 on the situation of the fracture. In many cases splints will be neces- 

 sary along the branches of the jaws. The broad head-stall of a bridle, 

 furnished with additional nose-bands and throat-latches, will often prove 

 serviceable. The animal must be nourished by injections of gruel, hay- 

 tea, &c. In cases of fracture of the symphysis, the animal is unable to 

 pick up his food with his front teeth. Here it often happens that a pitch 

 plaster is all that is required. In other cases we find, not only simple 

 fracture of the symphysis, but also separation of the sides of the jaw to 

 such an extent that the soft parts are also severed. In accidents of this 

 nature the incisor teeth will serve for the attachment of ligatures to 

 keep the bones together ; straps and bandages must, however, also be used 

 in whatever manner may seem best. 



In a fracture of this bone, Mr. Blaine " once succeeded very tolerably 

 by making a strong leathern frame which exactly encased the jaw," and 

 this he caused to adhere by means of pitch. 



Fractured Spine constitutes " Broken Back ;" though there are 

 other pathological conditions that give rise to similar symptoms. (See 

 case of " Fractured Vertebrae from Casting " in Field's ' Veterinary 

 Records,' p. 214.) From the situation of the spine we should suppose 

 external injury could hardly reach it ; and the results of practice tend 

 to confirm the supposition : since these accidents are referable to internal 

 causes — to muscular force. Casting is sometimes attended with this 

 accident, and without any fault on the part of the operator. It does 

 not happen in the act of falling near so often as while the animal is down. 

 While he is forcibly contorting his back, and struggling violently, all at 

 once his struggles cease, and at the same instant a snap is heard. In 

 aged horses, in whom anchylosis of the spine is very common, in 

 Avhich state it is both inelastic and brittle compared to what it is in 

 youth, I suspect that the fracture happens in the fall — that the spine 

 snaps from the concussion — and that the displacement may take place 

 either immediately afterwards, in consequence of struggling, or may not 

 happen until after the animal has risen. A troop-horse, nineteen years 

 old, was cast for an operation. The cast proved a favorable one, inas- 



