FRACTURES. 



443 



witli an external wound, the chances are much more unfavourable ; and in 

 the comminuted fracture, that is, where the bone is smashed into small 

 pieces, no reasonable chance of a cure can be entertained. 



The probability of reunion of the parts depends upon the depth of the 

 wound connected with the fracture — the contusion of the soft parts in the 

 immediate neighbourhood of it— the blood-vessels, arterial or venous, that 

 have been wounded — the propinquity 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 nume- 

 rous spiculse or splinters. 



In a horse that is full of flesh, the cure of fracture is difficult ; likewise 

 in an old or Avorn-out horse — or when the part is inaccessible to the hand 

 or to instruments — or Avhen separation has taken place between the parts 

 that Avere beginning to unite — or where the surrounding tissues liave 

 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 re\dew 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 effected, it will produce complete coma, and bid defiance to all sur- 

 gical skill. Fracture of the skull is generally accompanied by stupidity, 

 convulsive motions of the head or Hmbs, laborious breathing, anda stag- 

 o-ering walk. The eyes are almost or quite closed, the head is carried low, 

 and the lower lip hangs down. Blows on the cranium, which the brutality 

 of man too often inflicts, as well as many accidents, are very serious matters, 

 and require considerable attention, for, although it may have been ascer- 

 tained that the cranium is uninjured, there maybe considerable concussion 

 of the brain. 



