TREATMENT OF FRACTURES. 289 



Fractures of the shoulder should be treated in a similar manner. 



In fractures of i\ie fore and hind legs, very great care is neces- 

 sary to ensure a straight union. As soon as the inflammation and 

 swelling will admit of it (sometimes there is little or none from, 

 the first), apply an adhesive plaister neatly and firmly around the 

 part; then fill up the inequalities with tow or lint, so that the limb 

 shall appear of one size throughout, otherwise the points of the 

 joints will be irritated and made sore by the pressure of the splints. 

 After this has been done, apply two, three, or four splints of thin 

 pliable wood before, behind, and on each side of the limb, and 

 secure them in their places by a flannel bandage. In all fractures, 

 great caution must be observed not to tighten the part, by either 

 the plaister or bandage, so as to bring on strangulation of the 

 vessels, which will be shewn by the swelling. Should this, there- 

 fore, occur to a considerable degree, the bandage must be loosened, 

 or otherwise mortification may take place. In fractures of the 

 fore legs, a supporting bandage, with side splints, should be kept 

 on a longer time than is necessary for fractures of the hinder ones. 

 If this precaution be not observed, the leg is apt to become gradu- 

 ally crooked, after the apparatus is removed. 



In cases of compound fracture, that is, where there is an open 

 wound, which penetrates to the divided bones, the same means 

 must be pursued as are practised in the human subject. Irritating 

 pointed portions must be sawed ofi^ ; the loose ones should be re- 

 moved ; and every means must be adopted to close the wound as 

 early as possible ; during which process, the bones should be kept 

 in contact with each other, and supported by soft bandages ; until 

 the cicatrization of the wound will allow of proper splints and 

 tighter bandaging. It likewise not unfrequently happens, that a 

 compound fracture, or even a simple one, when neglected, becomes 

 united by a soft union ; that is, instead of the callus interposed 

 between the divided ends being bony, it proves cartilaginous only. 

 In such a case the fractured bone never becomes firm ; but, on 

 the contrary, when examined, an obscure motion may be felt, like 

 an imperfect joint, which utterly precludes any strength in the 



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