FRACTURES. 44«J 



Tlio 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 luany pieces, so that it is impossible for the 

 hind quarters of the animal to be supported — also fractixres of the exter- 

 nal angle of the Uium, which rarely is again consolidated, and roughnesa 

 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. 



The upper and projecting part of the ilium or hip-bone is not unfre- 

 quently fractured, by the animal coming in contact Avith some hard sub- 

 stance, such as the side of the stable-door, or from getting cast in the 

 stable. It generally causes lameness, but after a time the bone unites, 

 although from the action of the muscles attached to this part, it assumes 

 a different position, producing various degrees of deformity, and constitutes 

 what is termed 'hip down' or ' let down on the hip.' 



Fkactuke of the tail. — This accident is not of frequent occurrence, 

 except from accidental entanglement, or the application of bi-ute force. 

 The fracture is easily recognised, frequently by the eye and always by 

 the fingers. If the tail is not amputated, a cord passed over a pulley, 

 and with a small weight attached to it, will bring the sej^arated bones 

 again into apposition, and in about a month the natural condition of the 

 part will be sufficiently reinstated. 



Fractures of the limbs. — These, fortunately, are of rare occurrence in 

 the horse, for although their divided edges might be easily brought again 

 into apposition, it would be sometimes impossible to retain them in it, for 

 the slightest motion would displace them. A rapid sui'vey of each may 

 not, however, be altogether useless. 



Fracture of the scapula. — The author is not aware of the successful 

 treatment of this accident by any English veterinary surgeon. ]\Ir. Fuller 

 says, in the eighth volume of the 'Veterinarian,' that he attempted it, 

 but from the difficulty of keeping the diA-ided edges of the bone in apposi- 

 tion wdth each other, and the natural untractableness of the animal, and 

 symptoms of tetanus beginning to appear, the patient was destroyed. The 

 fracture was a little above the neck of the scapula, and the muscles were 

 dreadfully lacerated. 



Fracture of the humerus. — It is not at all times easy to discover the 

 existence and precise situ.ation of fracture of the humerus. The lameness 

 is very great— the animal will not bear at all upon the broken limb — he 

 will drag it along the ground — he will move sloAvly and with difficulty, and 

 his progression will consist of a succession of short leaps. The lifting of 

 the foot will give very great pain. If he is roughly handled, he will some- 

 times rear or throw himself suddenly down. By careful application of the 

 hand a crepitus will more or less distinctly be heard. The chances are 

 always materially against the union of a fracture of the humerus. The 

 patient must be kept constantly suspended, and bandages carefully applied. 

 M. Delaguette relates in the Journal Pratique for December 1831, that he 

 attended an entire draught-horse whose humerus had been fractured by 

 the kick of a mare. The fracture extended longitudinally through two- 

 thirds of the length of the bone, and the parts were separated from each 

 other. They were brought again into apposition, and kept so by means 

 of pitch plasters and splints. The horse was put into slings ; the pavement 



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