FRACTURES. 327 



especially in leaping. The fractures are generally about their middle, and, in the true 

 ribs, commonly oblique. They are occasionally broken into splinters, and if those 

 splinters are directed inward, they may seriously wound the pleura or lungs. In order 

 most certainly to detect the situation and extent of these fractures, it may be neces- 

 sary to trace the rib through its whole extent, and, should there be any irregularity, 

 to press firmly upon it above and below in order to ascertain the nature and extent of 

 the injury. 



If fracture is detected, it is not often that much essential good can be done. If 

 there is little or no displacement, a broad roller should be tightly drawn round the 

 chest, in order to prevent as much as possible the motion of the ribs in the act of 

 breathing, and to throw the labour on the diaphragm and the abdominal muscles until 

 the fractured parts are united. If the fractured parts protrude outwards, a firm com- 

 press must be placed upon them. If they are depressed, it will always be advisable 

 to place a firm bandage over the seat of fracture, although, perhaps, there may be 

 scarcely the possibility of elevating them to any considerable degree. Should much 

 irritation be the consequence of the nature or direction of the fracture, proper means 

 must be adopted to allay the constitutional disturbance that may be produced. Gen- 

 eral or local bleedings will be most serviceable.* 



Fracture of the pelvis. — This is not of frequent occurrence, on account of the 

 thickness of the soft parts which surround the pelvis, and protect it from injury, but 

 it is of a most serious character when it does take place, on account of the violence 

 which must have been necessary to produce it. The usual cases are falls from a con- 

 siderable height, or heavy blows on the pelvis. The injury may have reference to 

 the internal or external portion of the pelvis. In the first case, the danger may not 

 be discovered until irreparable mischief is produced. When it is chiefly external, the 

 altered appearance of the hip speaks for itself. It is rarely in our power to afford any 

 assistance in cases like this, except when there are fractured portions of the bone that 

 may be partially or entirely removed, or the projecting spine of the ilium is only par- 

 tially fractured. 



M. Levrat gives an interesting account of a case of fracture of the right side of 

 the pelvis, near the acetabulum, in leaping a wide ditch when hunting. "The lame- 

 ness which it occasioned," says he, " was such that the toe of the foot was scarcely 

 permitted to touch the ground while the motion was at all rapid. When the motion 

 was slow, the foot was placed flat on the ground, but with great difficulty moved for- 

 ward. On applying my right hand to the fractured part, which did not exhibit any 

 heat, and seizing with my left hand the point of the thigh, I felt a movement of the 

 ischium, which easily enabled me to judge of the fracture and its seat, and to dis- 

 cover that none of the fractured parts were displaced. I ordered her to be kept quiet 

 for three weeks, and then permitted to wander about the stable. At the end of two 

 months she was mounted and exercised at a foot pace, and in another month she was 

 enabled to sustain the longest day's work without lameness. In the following year 

 she was placed in the stud of the Baron de Stael, where she produced some good 

 foals.f 



The Annals of the school at Alfort contain the case of an old mare with fracture 

 of the pelvis and of the left ischium, and in whom union of the bones was effected 

 so promptly, that on the thirtieth day very little lameness remained, and she shortly 

 returned to her usual work. She soon afterwards died from some other cause, and 

 the state of the osseous parts was thoroughly examined. These cases, however, stand 

 almost alone, and post-mortem examination discovers fractures of the ischium and 

 the pelvis, and each bone divided into many pieces, so that it is impossible for the 

 hind quarters of the animal to be supported — also fractures of the external ano-le of 

 the ilium, which rarely is again consolidated, and roughness of the bony fragments, 

 which produce sad laceration of the soft parts. Fracture of the ischium presents 

 almost insuperable difficulties — that of the ilium is uniformly fatal.:f 



* Cases of anchylosis of the vertebrae of the horse are too frequent, from the heavy weights 

 and sudden and violent concussion which are too frequently thrown on these parts. Com- 

 plete anchylosis of all the dorsal and lumbar vertebrae have been produced, extending even to 

 the haunch. — Sandifort's Mus. Anat. vol. ii. p. 38 to 44, and iii. p. 243. 



t Rec. de Med. Vet., Nov. 1831, and Veterinarian, vol. vi. p. 390. 



t Diet. Vet. Mar. Hurtrel d'Arboval, vol. ii. p. 586. 



