DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 317 



as a fulcrum placed undci" it outside. The bone, having been thus 

 returned, ma}' be kept in place b}" the ordinary external means in use. 



Theoi Innomimduin. — Fractures of the iliiuii maybe observed either 

 at the angle of the hip or at the neck of the bone; those of the pubes 

 ma}' take place at the S3'mphysis, or in the bod}' of the bone; those of 

 the ischium on the floor of the bone, or at its posterior external angle. 

 Or, again, the fracture may involve all three of these constituent parts 

 of the hip bone by having its situation in the articular cavity — the 

 acetabulum by which it joins the fenmr or thigh bone. 



Symptoms. — Some of these fractures are easily recognized, while 

 others are difficult to identify. The ordinary deformity which char- 

 acterizes a fracture of the external angle of the ilium, its dropping 

 and the diminution of that side of the hip in width, unite in indicating- 

 the existence of the condition expressed by the term "hipped." But 

 an incomplete fracture, or one that is complete without diplacement, 

 oi even one with displacement, often demands the closest scrutiny for 

 its discovery. The lameness may be well marked, and an animal may 

 show but little appearance of it while walking, but upon being urged 

 into a trot will manifest it more and more, until presently he will 

 cease to use the crippled limb altogether, and perform his traveling 

 entirely on three legs. The acute character of the lameness will vary 

 in degree as the seat of the lesion approximates the acetabulum. In 

 walking, the motion at the hip is very limited, and the leg is dragged; 

 while at rest it is relieved from bearing its share in sustaining the 

 body. An intelligent opinion and correct conclusion will depend 

 largely upon a knowledge of the history of the case, and while in some 

 instances that will be but a report of the common etiology of frac- 

 tures, such as blows, hurts, and other external violence, the simple 

 fact of a fall may furnish in a single word a satisfactory solution of 

 the whole matter. 



With the exception of the deformity of the ilium in a fracture of its 

 external angle, and unless there has been a serious laceration of tis- 

 sues and infiltration of blood, or excessive displacement, there are no 

 very definite external symptoms in a case of a fracture of the hip 

 bone. There is one, however, which, in a majority of cases, will not 

 fail — it is crepitation. This evidence is attainable by both external 

 and internal examination — by manipulation of the gluteal- surface and 

 by rectal taxis. Very often a lateral motion, or balancing of the hinder 

 parts by pressing the body from one side to the other, will be sufficient 

 to render the crepitation more distinct — a slight sensation of grating, 

 which may be perceived even through the thick coating of muscle 

 which covers the bone — and the sensation may not only be felt, Ijut to 

 the ear of the expert may even become audible. This external mani- 

 festation is, however, not always sufficient in itself, and should always 

 be associated with the rectal taxis for corroboration. It is true that 



