284 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



depressed portion may be held in j^osition bj^ packing the nostril on 

 that side with absorbent cotton. This practice, however, has the 

 objection of giving the animal great discomfort and in some cases a 

 disposition to aggravate the injuiy. 



Fracture of the skull (cranium). — Fractures of the bones form- 

 ing the cavity in which the brain is situated are, owning to their 

 strength, comparatively rare among cattle. Such an accident can 

 only be the result of external violence, and it is hardly possible that 

 it could occur without some fragment of the broken bone pressing 

 upon the brain so as to cause coma or other severe nervous derange- 

 ment, or even death. 



If the animal survives the first shock, the efforts should be directed 

 toward relieving the pressure, which may be done by making an open- 

 ing in the bone (trephining) and with a hook drawing the depressed 

 part outward. Interference is not so likely to be attended with good 

 results as to be warranted in all cases. The effects of a very severe 

 shock which may not have produced a fracture, although the symp- 

 toms were alarming, will in many cases pass off, leaving the animal 

 in a better condition than if an operation had been performed. 



Fracture of the lower jaav. — This occasionally occurs, and is 

 more likely to result from the kick of a horse than from any other 

 cause. The front part of the jaw is likely to be split or shattered in 

 any direction in which the force may have been applied. Bloody dis- 

 charges from the mouth and failure to eat or ruminate are symptoms 

 most likely to attract attention. 



The treatment is simple, and consists of first removing detached 

 pieces of bone, then drawing the parts together and retaining them 

 by means of pieces of copper wire fastened around the teeth, and 

 feeding the animal on sloppy food until recovery takes place. The 

 wound should be dressed once or twice a day with a 3 per cent solu- 

 tion of carbolic acid, forced gently in with a syringe, so as to remove 

 any food which may have become impacted and interfere with the 

 healing process. 



Fracture of the ^^:RTEBRA (spinal column). — This is not so 

 common among cattle as other animals. If the fracture should be 

 through the body of the bone there is likely to be pressure on or 

 laceration of the spinal cord, causing paralysis of all parts posterior 

 to the seat of injury. Fractures of the prominences on the vertebra 

 occasionally occur without interfering with the canal in which the 

 spinal cord is located. Such accidents are likely to pass unnoticed, 

 for, although the animal may suffer considerable pain, it is not likely 

 to be manifested in such a way as to attract attention, and the deep 

 covering of muscles serves to effectually conceal the injury. AMien 

 the fracture occurs in the upper part of the neck, paralysis of the 

 muscles used in respiration must result, and death from asphyxia 



