FEACTURES OF BONES. 155 



falling- forwards. Over the dry bandage the starch bandage must 

 be carefully laid, extending from the foot over the hock as high 

 as possible, in order to keep the limb in a state of rigidity. 



FRACTURE OF THE METATARSAL BONES. 



The tarsal bones are all liable to be fractured by direct injury, 

 and should be treated in the same manner as the similar bones of 

 the fore extremity. 



FRACTURES OF THE VERTEBRAE. 



A fractured vertebra above the origin of the phrenic nerve, 

 with displacement of its fragments, produces death. It is not dis- 

 covered until a post mortem examination be made. The nerve 

 being cut oif, can no longer convey motor power to the dia- 

 phragm; the respiration grows slower and slower until it finally 

 ceases altogether, death resulting solely from paralysis of this 

 great respiratory muscle. 



The transverse processes of the cervical vertebrae are some- 

 times fractured, and, by pressing upon the cervical nerve in the 

 immediate neighborhood, cause more or less paralysis of the 

 cervical muscles supplied by the nerve, producing what is com- 

 monly termed wry neck — that is, a twisted neck, the head being 

 turned from the seat of injury. Fracture may occur by being 

 halter-cast, getting the foot into the halter and struggling vio- 

 lently, getting under the manger, or other such injuries. 



Symptoms. — There is a tendency to carry the head to one side; 

 examination along the neck may find the seat of injury and de- 

 tect crepitation. If you suspect a fracture, keep the animal as 

 quiet as possible; bathe to allay the irritation and kec]) the feed- 

 box pretty high; tie him up for several days. There are cases 

 where reunion does not take place, causing necrosis of the parts; 

 they become detached and set up irritation; there is a discharge; 

 perhaps it heals up and then breaks out again. Cut down and 

 remove the particle of bone. 



The spinous processes of the dorsal vertebrae are the seat of 



