BONES DISEASES AND ACCIDENTS. 285 



I 



are more subject to fracture because of the preponderance of inorganic 

 matter rendering them more brittle. They are also occasionally ren- 

 dered liable to fracture by a previously existing diseased condition. 

 Fractures are divided into four classes : Partial, simple, compound, and 

 comminuted. 



Partial fractures are those which are likely to occur in a young 

 animal in which the preponderance of animal matter or the semi-carti- 

 laginous condition of the bone renders it tough, so that considerable 

 force must be applied before fragments of the bone are dissolved, and 

 even then the bone bends, breaking on the side opposite that to which 

 the force was applied, after the manner in which a green stick would 

 bend and break. 



Simple fracture is one in which the bone is severed in two parts, 

 either in a line directly through the bone, or obliquely, without serious 

 injury to the adjoining structures. 



Compound fracture is one in which there is an open wound communi- 

 cating with the ends of the broken bones. 



Comminuted fracture is one in which the bone is shattered or divided 

 into a number of fragments. 



General symptoms of fracture. When a fracture of one or more of the 

 large bones of a limb occurs, symptoms are sure to be well marked. 

 After the accident the animal refuses to touch the foot to the ground, 

 and if compelled to move does so with great pain and reluctance. There 

 is more or less shortening of the limb, with trembling of the muscles in 

 the vicinity of the injury, deformity, and increased mobility, so that in- 

 stead of the natural joints of the limb and the natural muscular con- 

 trol of their motion a new joint is formed where the fracture occurred, 

 over which tlw animal has no control. As the leg hangs dependent 

 from the body, shortened by the ends of the bones being forced past one 

 another from the muscular contraction which invariably takes place, it 

 swings in an awkward and unnatural manner, permitting the toe and 

 foot to assume positions in their relations to other parts of the body 

 which otherwise would be impossible. If the fractured bone is so situ- 

 ated that the parts may be moved one upon another, a grating sound, 

 known as crepitus, will be observed. 



General treatment of fracture*. When a fracture occurs the advisa- 

 bility of attempting treatment must first be determined. If the animal 

 be young, valuable, and of reasonably quiet temperament, and the frac- 

 ture not too great in extent, the chances of recovery are fair. On the 

 other hand, if the animal should be of little value, irritable, advanced 

 in years, and the fracture a serious compound or comminuted one, the 

 wiser course would generally be to put the creature out of its misery. 

 Having determined to attempt treatment no time should bo lost in re- 

 storing the parts as nearly a possible to their natural position and 

 retaining them there. If the ends of the bones have been drawn past 

 one another, they should by tirm and continuous tension he drawn out 



