228 HEALTH AND DISEASE 



otherwise will depend upon a variety of circumstances, all of which should 

 be well considered before a decision is arrived at. 



The position of the bone and the nature of the fracture will claim atten- 

 tion first. A simple fracture without displacement is not a serious matter, 

 unless it occurs in the immediate neighbourhood of a joint, to which the 

 reparative inflammation may extend and occasion some permanent inter- 

 ference with its movements. 



Compound and comminuted fractures are always more serious than 

 simple ones, and in all the danger is greatly aggravated where the tissues 

 in the region of the breakage are much bruised or torn, especially where 

 large nerves and vessels are divided by the broken ends of the bone. All 

 these are matters which impart to a fracture in such an uncontrollable 

 subject as the horse a dangerous and discouraging outlook. 



A young horse, with a sound constitution and a quiet generous tem- 

 perament, is much more amenable to treatment than an old, declining, 

 irritable subject. 



In the treatment of fracture three important requirements must 

 be fulfilled. The broken fragments must first be brought together and 

 placed in their normal position; they then require to be retained there 

 until they have again become firmly united by the natural process of 

 repair. 



The third requirement involves the care against complications, and 

 prompt measures of treatment when they arise. 



If there is no displacement of the broken pieces, but by the history and 

 general symptoms of the case a fracture is denoted, the second and third 

 indications only will require to be met. 



It is no rare occurrence for horses to break the bones of their legs and 

 to continue to work for hours, days, or weeks without any displacement 

 occurring. A case came to the notice of the writer where a horse in the 

 course of a day's hunting suffered a comminuted fracture of the canons of 

 both hind-limbs. He was noticed to be lame after striking them against a 

 stone wall, and was sent home in consequence. After being fed and dressed 

 and "set fair" he lay down, and when the groom returned to him and 

 caused him to rise, the broken fragments parted, and not till then was the 

 existence of a fracture made known. 



The horse was destroyed, and a post-mortem examination showed both 

 bones to be broken into several pieces. 



The means by which fractures are reduced or " set " will vary with the 

 seat and nature of the displacement. Some are altogether beyond rectifi- 

 cation. This is especially the case in the bones of the spine, and in some 

 bones to which large muscles are attached. By the latter the broken parts 



