84 FRACTURES AND DISEASES OF BONES. 



parts which surround the broken bones can prove an ixupeJi' 

 ment to their proper adjustment. When swelling and tension 

 are actually present, no time should be lost in vain attempts to 

 allay these by means of fomentations, &c., but the practitioner 

 must at once reduce the fracture — the horse being first placed 

 in slings {see Frontispiece) — and place the limb in a steady and 

 fixed position by means of splints and bandages. The source of 

 irritation being thus removed, the swelling will soon disappear. 

 The best material for splints is strong leather, what is called 

 " bend-leather," the pieces being made sufficiently long to extend 

 to a distance beyond the superior and inferior articulations of 

 tlie fractured bones, and broad enough to envelop and enclose 

 the whole circumference of the limb. Holes may be cut in the 

 leather where the splints pass over any sharp eminence, as, for 

 example, over the trapezium in the knee. Gutta-percha is 

 recommended by some practitioners, and it answers very well, 

 but I prefer the strong leather. Before it is applied, it should 

 be well soaked in warm water ; when thus softened, it may be 

 moulded to the shape of the limb with the greatest ease. The 

 sphnts are to be retained in their position by bandages. When 

 swelling and tension are present before the fracture is reduced, 

 the splints may be maintained in position by the looped bandage ; 

 which consists of strips of calico, about two or three inches broad, 

 and long enough when folded double to pass round the limb, with 

 a few inches of excess ; one of the ends is then drawn through the 

 loop, and tied to the other. This bandage is useful when the 

 degree of tightness requires to be altered, but it must be 

 replaced by tSe common roller as soon as the swelling has 

 subsided, and supplemented by one or two layers of bandages 

 saturated with starch, dextrine — or what answers the purpose 

 .equally well, and is much cheaper — flour paste, made by boiling 

 flour in water. When dry, the bandages become immoveable, 

 and support the limb so effectually, that the animal soon 

 puts weight upon it. In using the starch bandage, great care 

 is requisite in its adjustment : it must not press unequally 

 upon any part of the limb, all hollows are to be padded with 

 tow, and it must never project beyond the extremities of 

 the dry bandages, which should always extend below to 

 the foot:' or its edges, becoming hardened, may cut and 

 wound the skin, causing irritation and pain ; rendering the 

 jjatient uneasy, feverish, and the lingib liable to mortifi- 



