106 LAMENESS OF THE HORSE 



doing the last iiained operation, a permanent recovery is the 

 ontcome. 



Fracture of the Metacarpus. 



Etiology and Occurrence. — As the resnit of all sorts of vio- 

 lence, such as falls and injuries in accidents of various kinds 

 wherein the metacarpals are subjected to contusions, fractures 

 may result. In the horse it is unusual for fracture of one of the 

 small metacarpal bones to take place without there being at the 

 same time a fracture of the third (large) metacarpal lione. 



Classification. — Fractures of the metacarpal bones as they 

 occur, are as likely to be compound as simple, and the nudtiple 

 and comminuted varieties are -occasionally observed. The man- 

 ner in which the third (large) metacarpus is fractured, largely 

 determines the outcome in any given case. 



Symptomatology. — Abnormal mobility of the l)roken parts 

 of bone and crepitation mark fracture cf the metacarpus, and 

 the condition is easily diagnosed. In many instances, when 

 compound fracture exists, broken ends of bone are protruding 

 through the skin. No weight is borne upon the fractured mem- 

 ber ordinarily, altliough during the excitement occasioned by 

 runaways, horses are sometimes seen to support weight with a 

 broken leg even when the protruding bone is sunk into the 

 ground in so doing. 



Prognosis. — Generally speaking, fractures other than the 

 simple-transverse in young animals, are considered unfavorable 

 eases. With the metacarpus, however, there are instances where 

 compound fracture occurs in colts that justify treatment. But 

 in all cases of compound fracture, the element of infection in 

 addition to the increased difficulty in maintaining immoliility 

 of the broken bone, creates almost insuperable difficulties in the 

 average instance. And unless the practitioner distinctly ex- 

 plains to his client the various reasons wliich make treatment an 

 economic imin'acticability, dissatisfaction is likely to follow if 

 treatment is instituted without such an underetanding. 



Treatment. — Perfect ai)i)()sition of tiie broken ends of bone 

 is easily effected and less difficulty is encountered in maintain- 



