SPECIAL myuJiiEs OP bones. 355 



bone which has been struck, place the animal in slings and 

 wait for repair. A compound or comminuted fracture of this 

 bone need hardly be treated in large quadrupeds. A simple 

 transverse fracture may recover in slings, with a firm bandage 

 and splints from the foot up to above the stifle. I have had a 

 fair recovery even with a very oblique fracture, but this should 

 only be attempted in valuable breeding animals. 



The smaller bone of the leg {fibula) may be fractured by falling 

 in shafts or across a pole or beam. The resulting lameness is 

 most puzzling, as the broken ends of the bone are held together 

 by fibrous tissue, and though they move hinge-like no grating is 

 produced. Then the bone is so deeply covered by muscle 

 that it cannot be felt. A blow on the outer side of the hind 

 leg, just below the stifle, inducing persistent lameness, with 

 tenderness on pressure along the line of the bone on the outer 

 side of the limb, and without any other apparent injury, implies 

 fracture of this bone. 



Treatment. — A month's absolute rest and one or more blisters 

 over the seat of injury. 



SPRAIN OR LACERATION OF THE MUSCLE WHICH BENDS 



THE HOCK. 



This is often sprained at its lower part, and especially in its 

 inner branch which passes over the front and inner side of the 

 lower part of the hock joint, giving rise to a swelling exactly 

 in the seat of bone spavin. It is distinguished by its tense, 

 elastic nature, and by its position on this tendon rather than 

 above or below it. 



Treatment. — A smart blister, or this failing, evacuate with a 

 fine nozzle of a hypodermic syringe and then apply a wet 

 bandage or blister. This form is rarely hurtful. 



When more severely sprained the sweUing, heat, and tender-' 

 ness may be felt in front of the hock or on the anterior and 

 outer side of the stifle according to the seat of injury. The 



