FRACTURES 31 



place, defects in the stable at the place where the cow 

 stands must be improved so as to prevent a recui^- 

 rerce from the same cause. 



FRACTURES 



While fractures of the bones of the limbs are not 

 as common in cattle as in equine subjects, they do 

 occur occasionally. 



On general principles it can l)e said that fractures 

 of the legs in cattle condemn the animal to death 

 at once. Unless the accident occurs in a very young 

 animal or an animal of great value for breeding pur- 

 poses, the veterinarian usually serves his client best 

 by recommending the destruction of the animal at 

 once. There is one possible exception to this: simple 

 fracture of the canon bone in an anterior limb. If 

 the animal is in good condition in other respects we 

 occasionally recommend the treatment of these cases. 

 The treatment does not differ from that in other ani- 

 mals similarly affected. 



Fractures of the pelvis .occur with some frequency 

 in cattle and frequently heal without treatment. They 

 are of importance chiefly as contributing to subse- 

 quent maternal dystokia. 



Fractures of the ribs are also quite frequent in cat- 

 tle. Comminuted fractures of ribs in cows usually 

 terminuate in necrosis and extensive sloughing and 

 abscess formation. The abscesses are to be drained 

 and the sequestra removed. Rarely empyema results. 



Fractures of the phalanges are quite amenable to 

 treatment in cattle ; however, they always terminate 

 in a permanent lameness and deformity, resembling 

 ringbone formations. 



