DISEJkSES OF THE HORSE. -^ 313 



cipally as an evidence of the existence of a morbid diathesis, such as 

 osteoporosis, or the like. 



The particular seat of the injur}', with its special features, will, 

 of course, determine the treatment. For a simple fracture, without 

 displacement, provided there is no laceration of the periosteum, an 

 ordinary supporting bandage will usually be sufficient; but when 

 there is displacement the reduction of the fracture must first be accom- 

 plished, and for this special splints are necessary. In a fracture of 

 the sjanphysis or of the branches the adjustment of the fragments by 

 securing them with metallic sutures is the first step necessary, to be 

 followed by the application of supports, consisting of splints of 

 leather or sheets of metal, the entire front of the head being then 

 covered with bandages prepared with adhesive mixtures. During 

 the entire course of treatment a special method of feeding becomes 

 necessary. The inability of the patient to appreciate the situation, 

 of course, necessitates a resort to an artificial mode of introducing the 

 necessary food into his stomach, and it is accomplished by forcing 

 between the commissures of the lips, in a liquid form, by means of a 

 syringe, the milk or nutritive gruels selected for his sustenance, until 

 the consolidation is sufficiently advanced to permit the ingestion of 

 food of a more solid consistenc3^ The callus will usually be suffi- 

 ciently hardened in two or three weeks to allow of a change of diet 

 to mashes of cut hay and scalded grain, until the removal of the 

 dressing restores him to his old habit of mastication. 



FRACTURES OP VERTEBRA. 



These are not very common, but when thc}^ do occur the bones most 

 fi-equently injured are those of the back and loins. 



Causes. — The ordinary causes of fracture are responsible here as 

 elsewhere, such as heavy blows on the spinal column, severe falls while 

 conveying heav}' loads, and especially violent efforts in resisting the 

 process of casting. Although occurring more or less frequently under 

 the latter circumstances, the accident is not always attributable to 

 carelessness or error in the management. It may, of course, some- 

 times result from such a cause as a badly prepared bed, or the acci- 

 dental presence of a hard body concealed in the straw, or to a heavy 

 fall when the movements of the patient have not been sufficiently 

 controlled by an effective apparatus and its skillful adaptation, but it 

 is quite as likely to be caused by the violent resistance and the con- 

 sequent powerful muscular contraction by the frightened patient. 

 The simple fact of the overarching of the vertebral column, with 

 excessive pressure against it from the intestinal mass, owing to the 

 spasmodic action of the abdominal muscles, may account for it, and 

 so also may the struggles of the animal to escape from the restraint 

 of the hobbles while frantic under the pain of an operation without 



