SPECIAL INJURIES OF BONES. 323 



displacement, which is always downward. With one hand in 

 the rectum pressing on the depressed bone and the other pull- 

 ing the tail, the bones may be replaced and should be held so 

 by a stiff leather sheath well padded, fixed round the root of 

 the tail, and connected in front with a surcingle and collar. 

 Recovery of power over the tail may be looked for. 



INJURIES TO THE BONES OF THE TAIL. 



Fracture and dislocation are easily reduced, and the bones 

 maintained in proper place by a bandage. If the bones are 

 crushed, or the seat of caries or necrosis, the member should 

 be amputated above the injury. Docking scissors are best for 

 this purpose, but the organ may be laid across a beam and 

 chopped ofi'with one blow of a hatchet. The hair should first 

 be removed from the part to be cut, and what is above this 

 part tied up to the rump. After the amputation the hair is 

 drawn down over the stump and firmly tied, as close to it as 

 possible, so as to compress the arteries and check bleeding. 

 \.\\ cattle and other animals, with short hair on the tails, bleed- 

 ing may be prevented by a flat tape tied round the tail above 

 the stump for eight hours, or the arteries may be tied, or 

 finally, they may be seared with a hot iron, the part having 

 been first dusted with powdered resin. 



FRACTURED RIBS. 



These usually result from falls, blows, and other forms of 

 mechanical injury, and may be easily detected by a depression 

 or soft part at the seat of fracture. If simple, they will be 

 readily repaired under the influence of rest and girths to restrict 

 the movements of the chest. But if comminuted, abscesses 

 may form or necrosis ensue, demanding the removal of the 

 dead or morbid matters. If the fi-actured ends have been 

 (iriven in so far as to penetrate the lung, a still more serious 



