254 Local Injuries. 



to fracture, and few cases are curable. Brood mares and 

 entire horses of great value may be subjected to trial 

 when the fracture is transverse, and favourably situated 

 in the middle of the lower third of the shaft. 



THE BONES OF THE KNEE suffer in falls, as broken 

 knees, being sometimes comminuted, when stiffness of 

 the joint follows, even in favourable course. 



THE METACARPAL OR SHANK BONE surfers from all 

 forms of fracture, the transverse being the only manage- 

 able one. 



THE PASTERN BONES are sometimes split in halves 

 from above downwards ; occasionally across the mi'ddle, 

 and more frequently comminuted. 



THE SESSAMOID BONES at the back of the fetlock- 

 joint are at times literally torn in two by unusual pres- 

 sure exerted through the ligaments attached to them, 

 when the back of the joint descends to the ground, 

 the toe of the foot pointing upwards. Complete cure is 

 rare. 



THE NAVICULAR BONE within the hoof is subject to 

 much pressure and violent shocks, and injury of any 

 kind is attended with much fever, intense pain, and local 

 inflammation. The tendon which plays over it is like- 

 wise involved, and sometimes becomes so diseased as to 

 end in rupture. In any case, ossification of the joint is 

 common, and the animal is rendered useless. 



THE COFFIN BONE, although securely placed in its 

 horny box, is liable to all forms of fracture. The pyra- 

 midal process and the wings are detached; portions 

 of the body are split off by nails in shoeing by ex- 

 tremely ignorant workmen ; and comminuted fractures 

 are met with in runaway horses. Union may be effected 

 in some instances, but the usefulness of the animal is 

 impaired. 



In the hind extremities the long bones, as in the fore 

 limbs, are more commonly injured by fracture, the trans- 

 verse and oblique kinds prevailing, the former being most 

 amenable to treatment. The protuberances of the joints, 

 termed condyles, are also severed, involving serious 

 disease of the joint, shortening and deformity of the 



