FRACTURES OF BONES. 145 



a man. They will unite more quickly, the great difficulty being 

 to keep the animal quiet and the bones in proper jjosition. The 

 process of union and repair in the horse is very rapid and etfi- 

 cient, provided the solution of continuity does not extend into a 

 joint having extensive motion. 



The Symptoms or Fracture. — When fracture occurs in one 

 or more bones of a limb, the symptoms are great lameness sud- 

 denly manifested, obvious deformity, crepitation and inability 

 to bear weight upon the limb. These are the general symptoms; 

 the particular ones, as well as the causes of the several fractures, 

 will be hereafter described and illustrated. 



Treatment. — There are certain general rules applicable to 

 such cases; generally speaking, if the animal be one of small 

 value, we advise its destruction. On the other hand, if the ani- 

 mal be valuable, it should be treated. Compound fractures can- 

 not be treated with any degree of success in the horse, especially 

 those of the tibia and humerus, etc. Having decided that frac- 

 ture is present, endeavor to bring the fractured ends of the 

 bone into position as soon as possible. Having done this, splints 

 must be applied in such a manner as to keep the parts at rest. 

 This is accomplished by means of starch or plaster of Paris ban- 

 dages, and by the use of slings. A starch bandage is simply 

 factory cotton starched and applied around the parts. The best 

 bandage, however, is formed of calico stiffened with plaster of 

 Paris, ,care being taken to secure bandages of proper size, in 

 width and length. They should be not less than thirty feet long 

 and four inches wide. The bandage should be dipped into, or 

 have poured upon it, plaster of Paris as it is being applied, 

 which, on setting or becoming dry, forms a perfectly reliable 

 and unyielding bandage, being, as it were, moulded to the ])arts 

 and causing no undue irritation or feeling of discomfort. Nice, 

 light splints may be used, such as strong leather, tlie pieces being 

 made sufficiently long to extend to a distance beyond the supe- 

 rior and inferior articulations of the fractured bones, and broad 

 enough to envelop and enclose the whole circumference of the 

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