FRACTURES. 



333 



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In many cases the fracture, although a simple one, may he visihle on the slightest 

 inspection ; in others, there may he merely a suspicion of its existence. Here will 

 be exhibited the skill and the humanity of the educated surgeon, or the recklessness 

 and brutality of the empiric. The former will carefully place his patient in the posi- 

 tion at once the least painful to the sufferer, and the most commodious for himself. 

 He will proceed with gentleness, patience, and management — no rouirh handling or 

 motion of the parts, inflicting torture on the animal, arud adding to the injury already 

 received. It is interesting to observe how soon the horse comprehends all this, ana 

 submits to the necessary inspection ; and how complete and satisfactory the exami- 

 nation terminates under the superintendence of the humane and cautious practitioner, 

 while the brute in human shape fails in comprehending the real state of the case. 



Heat, swelling, tenderness, fearfulness of the slightest motion, crepitus, and espe- 

 cially change of the natural position of the limb, are the most frequent indications of 

 fracture. 



The probability of reunion of the parts depends upon the depth of the wound con- 

 nected with the fracture — the contusion of the soft parts in the immediate neighbour- 

 hood of it — the blood-vessels, arterial or venous, that have been wounded — the pro- 

 pinquity of some large joint to which the inflammation may be communicated — 

 dislocation of the extremities of the fractured joint — injuries of the periosteum — the 

 existence of sinuses, caries, or necrosis, or the fracture being compound, or broken 

 into numerous spiculfe or splinters. 



In a horse that is full of flesh, the cure of fracture is diflScult; likewise in an old 

 or worn-out horse — or when the part is inaccessible to the hand or to instruments — or 

 when separation has taken place between the parts that were beginning to unite — or 

 where the surrounding tissues have been or are losing their vitality — or when the 

 patient is already afflicted with any old or permanent disease. 



It may be useful briefly to review the various seats of fracture. 



Fracture of the skull. — The skull of the horse is so securely defended by the 

 yielding resistance of the temporal muscle, that fracture rarely occurs except at the 

 occipital ridge ; and should a depression of bone be there eflfected, it will produce 

 complete coma, and bid defiance to all surgical skill. Fracture of the skull is gene- 

 rally accompanied bv stupidity, convulsive motions of the head or limbs, laborious 

 breathing, and a staggering walk. The eyes are almost or quite closed, the head is 



