252 FRACTURES. 



and gnawing it. The splints were removed ; but the adhesive plaster ap- 

 pearing even and firm was suffered to remain. 26th. Everything appeared 

 to be going on well, when he again leaped from his bed. The wrist was 

 much more bowed, and was tender and hot. Simple lint and a firm calico 

 bandage were had recourse to. 27th. He is unable to put his foot to the 

 ground, and the joint is certainly enlarging. An adhesive plaster, made 

 by a Frenchman, was applied at the owner's request, over which was 

 placed a splint. The dog soon began to gnaw the plaster, which formed 

 a sticky but not very adhesive mass. Before night the pain appeared to 

 be very great, and the dog cried excessively. I was sent for. We well 

 fomented the leg, and then returned to our former treatment. There was 

 evidently a great deal of pain, but it gradually passed over, and a slight 

 degree of lameness alone remained. 



I have great pleasure in adding the following accounts of the successful 

 treatment of fractures in dogs by Mr. Percivall : 



" Hopeless as cases of fracture in horses generally are, from the difficulty 

 experienced in managing the patient, they are by no means to be so 

 regarded in dogs. I have in several instances seen dogs recover, and with 

 very good use of the parts, if not perfect restoration of them, when the 

 accidents have been considered, at the time they took place, of a nature so 

 irremediable as to render it advisable to destroy the animals. 



" May 4, 1 839. A valuable Irish spaniel fell from a high wall, and 

 fractured his off shoulder. On examination, I found the os humeri frac- 

 tured about an inch above its radial extremity, causing the limb to drop 

 pendulously from the side, and depriving the animal of all use of it. The 

 arm, by which I mean the fore arm, was movable in any direction upon 

 the shoulder, arid there was distinct crepitus : in a word, the nature of the 

 accident was too plain to admit of doubt ; nor was there any splinter or 

 loose piece of bone discoverable. I directed that the animal might be 

 laid flat upon his sound side in a hamper, or covered basket or box, of 

 sufficient dimensions, but not large enough to admit of his moving about ; 

 to have his hind legs fettered, his mouth muzzled, and his injured parts 

 covered with a linen cloth wetted with a spirit lotion. May 5. The parts 

 are tumefied, but not more, nor even so much as one might have expected. 

 Continue the lotion. 6th. At my request, Mr. Youatt was called in to 

 give his opinion as to the probability of effecting a cure. He thought from 

 the inconvenient situation of the fracture, that the chances of success were 

 doubtful ; and recommended that a plaster, composed of thick sheep-skin 

 and pitch, cut to the shape of the parts, should be applied, extending from 

 the upper part of the shoulder down upon the arm, and reaching to the 

 knee ; and that the whole should be enveloped in well-applied bandages, 

 one of them being carried over the shoulders and brought round between 

 the fore legs, to support the limb, and aid in retaining the fractured ends 

 in apposition. Prior to the application of the pitch plaster the hair was 

 closely shorn off. Thus bound up, the dog was replaced in his hamper, 

 and had some aperient medicine given to him. 8th. The medicine has 

 operated ; and he appears going on well, his appetite continuing unim- 

 paired. 10th. He growls when I open the basket to look at him. On 

 examining him (while his keeper had hold of him), I found the plaster 

 loosening from its adhesion ; I took it off altogether, and applied a fresh 

 one, composed of the stopping composition I use for horses' feet. June 7. 

 Up to this time everything appears to have been going on properly. The 



