310 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



variously, pasteboard, thin wood, bark, laths, gutta percha, strips of 

 thin metal, as tin or perhaps sheet iron. These should be of sufficient 

 length not only to cover the region of the fracture, but to extend 

 sufficiently above and below to render the immobility more complete 

 than in the surrounding joints. The splints, again, are covered with 

 cloth bandages, linen preferably, soaked in a glutinous mixture. 

 These bandages are to be carefully applied, with a perfect condition 

 of lightness. They are usually made to embrace the entire length of 

 the leg, in order to avoid the possibility of interference with the cir- 

 culation of the extremity, as well as for the prevention of chafing. 

 They should be rolled from the lower part of the leg upward, and 

 carefully secured against loosening. In some instances suspensory 

 bandages are recommended, but excepting for small animals our 

 experience does not justify a concurrence in the recommendation. 



These permanent dressings always need careful watching with ref- 

 erence to their immediate effect upon the region they cover, especially 

 during the first days succeeding that of their application. Any mani- 

 festation of pain, or any appearance of swelling above or below, or 

 any odor suggestive of suppuration should excite suspicion, and a 

 thorough investigation should follow without delay. The removal of 

 the dressing should be performed with great care, and especially so if 

 time enough has elapsed since its application to allow of a probability 

 of a commencement of the healing process or the existence of any 

 points of consolidation. With the original dressing properly applied 

 in its entirety in the first instance, the entire extremity will have lost 

 all chance of mobility, and the repairing process may be permitted to 

 proceed without interference. There will be no necessity and there 

 need be no haste for removal or change except under such special con- 

 ditions as have just been mentioned, or when there is reason to judge 

 that solidification has become perfect, or for the comfort of the ani- 

 mal, or for its readaptation in consequence of the atrophy of the limb 

 from want of use. Owners of animals are often tempted to remove a 

 splint or bandage prematurely at the risk of producing a second frac- 

 ture in consequence of the failure of the callus properly to consolidate. 



The method of applying the splints which we have described refers 

 to the simple variety only. In a compound case the same rules must 

 be observed, with the modification of leaving openings through the 

 thickness of the dressing, opposite the wound, in order to permit the 

 escape of pus and to secure access to the points requiring the applica- 

 tion of treatment. 



FRACTURE OF DIFFERENT BONES. 

 CRANIAL RONES. 



Causes. Fractures of these bones in large animals are compara- 

 tively rare, though the records are not destitute of cases. When they 

 occur, it is as the result of external violence, the sufferers being 



