446 DOGS : THEIR MANAGEMENT. 



fractures may exist ; as where the animal breaks across 

 the whole of the four metatarsal bones proceeding from 

 the hock to the foot ; or snaps, which is of more rare 

 occurrence, the entire number of metacarpal bones, pro- 

 ceeding from the joint, which is called the knee of the 

 dog, towards the foot of the animal. 



The bones, however, most commonly fractured are the 

 ulna and radius in the fore-limb, and the tibia and fibula 

 in the posterior extremity. Next to these in order are 

 the femur or thigh-bone, in the hind-leg, and the humerus 

 or arm-bone of the anterior limb. Then come the four 

 metacarpal or metatarsal bones, being the same in num- 

 ber in both legs. These are all the author undertakes to 

 treat. The first and last he manages pretty successfully. 

 For the restoration of a fracture, all that is necessary is 

 to bring the ends which have been divided together, and 

 to keep them in the place into which your art has brought 

 them. To accomplish this end, the author is accustomed 

 to cut from a sheet of stout gutta percha three broad 

 straight ribbons ; then to soak these in warm water till 

 they are pliable, having first cut in them several holes 

 resembling button-holes, by the aid of a punch and nar- 

 row chisel. When they have lain in the warm water a 

 sufficient time to soften, and no more for the water of 

 too great a heat shrivels up as well as softens the gutta 

 percha he draws forth one ribbon, and this he moulds to 

 the front of the sound leg. 



That done, he takes another piece of the gutta percha, 

 and this he models to the hind part of the sound leg. 



