DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 327 



FRACTURES OF THE SECOND PHALANX (CORONETJ. 



Though these are generally of the comminuted kind, there are often 

 conditions associated with them which justify the surgeon in attempt- 

 ing their treatment. Though crepitation is not always easy to detect, 

 the excessive lameness, the soreness on pressure, the inability to carry 

 weight, the difficulty experienced in raising the foot, all these suggest, 

 as the solution of the question of diagnosis, the fracture of the coronet, 

 with the accompanying realization of the fact that there is j^et, hj rea- 

 son of the situation of the member, immobilized as it is b}'' its structure 

 and its surroundings, room left for a not unfavorable prognosis. Only 

 a slight manipulation will be needed in the treatment of this lesion. 

 To render the immobilit}'' of the region more fixed, to support the 

 bones in their position by bandaging, and to establish forced immo- 

 bility of the entire body with the slings is usuall}'- all that is required. 

 Ringbone, being a common sequela of the reparative process, must 

 receive due attention subsequenth'. One of the severest complications 

 likely to be encountered is an immobile joint (anch3^1osis). Neurectomy 

 of the median nerve ma}^ relieve lameness after a fracture of the 

 phalanges. 



FRACTURES OF THE THIRD PHALANX (oS PEDIS.) 



These lesions maj^ result from a penetrating street nail, or follow 

 plantar or median neurectom3^ In the latter instance it is caused by 

 the animal setting the foot down carelesslj^ and too violently, and 

 partly due to degeneration of bone tissue which follows nerving. 



Though these fractures are not of very rare occurrence, their recog- 

 nition is not easy, and there is more of speculation than of cer- 

 tainty pertaining to their diagnosis. The animal is verj'^ lame and 

 spares the injured foot as much as possible, sometimes resting it upon 

 the toe alone and sometimes holding it suspended in the air. The foot 

 is verj'" tender, and the exploring pinchers of the examining surgeon 

 causes much pain. During the first twenty-four hours there is no 

 increased pulsation in the digital and plantar arteries, but on the 

 second day this symptom is apparent. 



There is nothing to encourage a favorable prognosis, and a not 

 unusual termination is an anchylosis with either the navicular bone or 

 the coronet. 



No method of treatment needs to be suggested here, the hoof per- 

 forming the office of retention unaided. Local treatment by baths, and 

 fomentations will do the rest. It ma}- be months before there is any 

 mitigation of the lameness. 



An ultimate recovery depends to a great extent upon whether the 

 other foot can support the weight during the healing process without 

 causing a drop sole in the supporting foot. 



