624 THE DISEASES AND DISORDERS OF THE OX. 



rested. In addition, a dose of cathartic medicine should be 

 administered. 



Now, in reference to fractures, so far as sheep are concerned,, 

 only a very few observations need be made. If a bone is broken» 

 in a sheep, the callus by means of which the separate fragments 

 are united will be formed quickly. Indeed, it is nothing less 

 than astonishing to observe the rapidity and the efficacy of the 

 cures so often performed by unaided Nature in the case of all 

 animals alike. In many cases, however, help on the part of 

 the surgeon is absolutely necessary, if the damage is to be 

 repaired. For instance, if we have to deal with a simple case of 

 broken leg, the two parts should be brought into contact and 

 kept in contiguity by means of a few splints, properly and 

 carefully applied. After the lapse of a few days new bone will 

 have been formed, and the fracture repaired. Sometimes, indeed,, 

 a false joint may be formed. If so, the incompletely united 

 parts should be rubbed one against another, and the splints 

 should be re-applied. In most cases, if this be done, fresh bone 

 will be formed, and the union thereby rendered perfect. 



As a rule, however, a sheep is not of sufficient value to make 

 it worth while to be at much trouble in such cases, and conse- 

 quently it will often be found advisable to send a sheep which 

 has met with any, serious mishap forthwith to the butcher^ 

 On the other hand, if any accident of the nature above referred 

 to should befall any specially valuable sheep, fractures and the 

 like injuries can in the general way easily be managed by 

 the exercise of care and judgment, as in the case of other 

 animals. 



Instead of the bone-tissue itself being inflamed, we may be^ 

 confronted with a condition in which the membrane which, so- 

 to say, clothes a bone may be inflamed, either as a result of 

 injury, or as a consequence of the disease known as rheumatism. 

 The membrane spoken of as the periosteum becomes thickened^ 

 and lymph may be deposited beneath it and subsequently become 

 converted into bone. The name exostosis is given to a growth 

 of bone from bone, and such growths often arise from 

 inflammation of this membrane. 



Again, the ox sometimes develops dense outgrowths of bone 

 inside the skull. They grow out from the petrous portion of 

 the bone known as the temporal bone, and extend right into the 



