FRACTURES AND DISLOCATIONS. 483 



is fractured, or rather smashed into several little pieces. 

 Such a case is obviously hopeless with our patients. We 

 shall therefore proceed to notice the fractures indivi- 

 dually ; premising, however, that it would not be prudent 

 in the medical attendant to give too early a favourable 

 opinion in these cases. The impatience of the animal, and 

 his great powers of resistance, all act against a successful 

 issue. But if it is determined to attempt the union of the 

 bony portions, commence by replacing the fractured parts 

 of bone as nearly as possible in their original position ; and 

 next apply such aids as will so retain them until the union 

 is consolidated. Carefully, however, watch your patient, 

 that his own irritability do not frustrate your attempts. A 

 steady attendant should remain with him night and day, 

 alternating, however, his watch with some other equally 

 trustworthy stable-man. If the fracture is in the bones of 

 the extremities, then suspension of the animal may be re- 

 sorted to, which will, in a great measure, prevent the neces- 

 sity of a constant watch. 



Fractured Skull. — This is quite unfit for treatment, the 

 result generally being phrenitis of the most acute kind. 

 The horse with a fractured skull should be immediately 

 destroyed. 



Fractured Face. — Horses have had all the fore part of 

 the head smashed in, and yet have survived ; and even done 

 good service in the hunting field afterwards. The skin, if 

 not sufficiently divided, should be separated ; each per- 

 fectly detached piece of bone removed, and the other por- 

 tions supported by every means in our power. Pasteboard, 

 or thin leather, should be passed up the nostrils if neces- 

 sary. The skin should then be brought together, and the 

 horse fed on slops, if imperative. His head should be tied 

 up, to prevent his rubbing the wound against any thing, 

 and the animal placed, as soon as he will bear them, in the 

 slings. If, after all, any opening into the nostrils, or else- 

 where, should remain, it may be covered with leather. One 

 eye has, in a case treated by Mr. W. Percivall, been forced 

 out upon the cheek. But this gentleman cleansed and 

 restored the part. The horse subsequently perfectly re- 

 covered the use of the organ. This is the only comminuted 

 fracture wiiich, in the horse, can be treated with success. 



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