LAMENESS IN THE FORE LEG 83 



can move without serious difficulty. The pathognomonic symp- 

 tcmi here is recognition of crepitation, but this may be very diffi- 

 cult to recognize in fracture of condyles, and in such instances, 

 a careful examination is necessary. Gentle manipulation in a 

 manner that pain is not aggravated will tend to inspire confi- 

 denee on the part of the subject and relaxation of muscles will 

 enable the operator to detect crepitation. 



Course and Prognosis. — Because of the direction of the long 

 axis of the humerus, with relation to the bony column of the 

 extremity, it is obvious that any lateral movement of the leg 

 tends to rotate the shaft of this bone. In fractures of the shaft 

 of the humerus, then, it is apparent that immobilization is very 

 difficult if at all possible. 



The proximity to the axillary lymph glands makes for easy 

 dissemination of infection when the contused musculature be- 

 comes infected. The adjacent brachial nerve plexus is so very 

 apt to become involved, if not actually injured at the time frac- 

 ture occurs, that paralysis is a probable complication. Conse- 

 quently, it is logical to reason that because of the many possilile 

 serious complications, such as shock, occasioned by the injury 

 and the distress and pain which this accident produces, recov- 

 ery must be the exception in fracture of the humerus. How- 

 ever, recoveries do take place and in addition to the reported 

 recoveries by Liautard, ]Moller, Stockfleth, Lafosse, Frohner and 

 others, we have instances cited by American practitioners where 

 cases resulted in recovery. Thomp.son^ reports a good recovery 

 in a 1600-pound mare where there existed an oblique fracture 

 of the humerus. This mare was kept in slings for eight weeks. 

 Walters- reports complete recovery in humeral fracture in a foal 

 three days old. The only treatment given was the application 

 of a pitch plaster from the top of the scapula to the radius. 

 The colt was kept in a comfortable box stall and in about four 

 weeks regained use of the leg. Complete recovery eventually 

 resulted. In the experience of the author, recovery has not oc- 

 curred in humeral fractures. 



^A paper presented before the Illinois Veterinary Medical Assn. by Dr. H. 

 Thompson of Paxton, Ul., American Veterinary Review, Vol. 15, p. 134. 



-"Fractures in Foals," by Dr. Wilfred Walters, M. R. C. V. S., American 

 Journal of Veterinary Medicine, Vol. S, p. 669. 



