SPECIAL INJURIES OF BONES. 35' 



pression or increased prominence of the head of the thigh- 

 bone. 



Reduction. — Lay the animal on the opposite side of the body ; 

 maintain the body immovable by a strong sheet carried be- 

 tween tlie thighs and held by several men orfixedto a firm object; 

 attach a band round the limb above the hock and let two men 

 drag upon this, or one man carefully with the aid of a block and 

 tackle; meanwhile the operator, seizing hock and stifle, must 

 turn the upper part of the limb in a direction opposite to the 

 displacement \i fonvard the hock is raised and the stifle 

 depressed; if backward the stifle is raised and the hock 

 depressed ; if inward a smooth round billet of wood is to be 

 placed between the thighs to act as a fulcrum upon which the 

 limb is depressed when suflSciently stretched ; if outward the 

 lower part of the limb must be drawn outward and upward, 

 while weight is thrown on the thigh-bone ; or by movements of 

 the limb it may be changed to a dislocation forward and 

 reduced from that position. It may be necessary to relax the 

 muscles by a full dose of chloral-hydrate before attempting to 

 reduce. When reduced, the head of the bone slips in with a 

 jerk and an audible sound, and the limb assumes its natural 

 position. The animal may then be let up, and should be kept 

 quiet and alone for several days. These cases do far better 

 than could be expected from the anatomical arrangements of 

 the part. 



FRACTURE OF THE NECK OF THE THIGH-BONE. 



This is not uncommon in small animals, especially dog?, but 

 very rare indeed in the large quadrupeds. It is marked by 

 shortening of the limb, inability to use it, and grating when it 

 is moved. If the finger or hand is passed into the rectum and 

 pressed against the crest above the hip-joint, while an assistant 

 draws the limb outward, the prominence of the head of tne 

 thigh-bone may be fell above the crest. This can only occur 



