298 Hounds 



the benefit of this, because a few days' treatment 

 will usually enable one to ascertain whether the 

 injury is curable or otherwise. A fracture may 

 be transverse, oblique or longitudinal, the oblique 

 fracture being, as a rule, the one most amenable to 

 treatment. It is usual to speak of such as a simple 

 fracture when the bone is merely broken into two 

 parts, which can happen in any of the forms of frac- 

 tures alluded to. If the bone is broken into a number 

 of fragments it is a comminuted fracture, whereas 

 a compound fracture is one in which there is a wound 

 in the skin and flesh plus the fracture. The worst 

 injury is the compound comminuted fracture, and 

 this requires very skilful treatment. It takes from 

 three to six weeks for the union of a bone, but 

 it is always advisable to 'leave the splints, etc., in 

 position for two or three weeks longer, as their too 

 early removal sometimes results in permanent lame- 

 ness. Needless to say, fracture through a joint is a 

 much more serious matter, and such injury is very 

 liable to end in a permanently stiff joint. The 

 causes of fracture are variable. It is sometimes due 

 to violent muscular contraction, to direct or indirect 

 concussion, to disease of the bone; but by far the 

 commonest cause is direct injury. The signs of 

 fracture are as variable as the causes, but in theory 

 it is customary to speak of increased heat, pain, 

 crepitus, swelling, sudden lameness and shortening of 



