298 FEACTURES. 



justed into their proper position if necessary. Th© animal should 

 have as complete rest as possible, slings (p. 680) being employed 

 if they can be obtained, and if the nature of the injury admits of 

 their use. Sawdust is a capital material for bedding in fractures, 

 as it affords good foothold, and allows the animal to readily change 

 the position of his limbs. 



As healthy union cannot take place unless the part be kept at 

 rest, we may, in order to obtain that condition, use various local 

 nieans, such as splints and bandages. Splints aid in checking 

 movement, and also assist to prevent deformity from the broken 

 parts remaining out of position for a lengthened period. The great 

 danger in their use is the setting up of unequally distributed pres- 

 sure, which, if prolonged, would be liable to give rise to inflam- 

 mation and even death of the part. They may be made of sole 

 leather, gutta peroha, strong paste-board, and thin wood ; and in 

 cases of emergency, bundles of brushwood, whips, sheet iron, or 

 even strong iron wire can be employed for this purpose. They 

 should be cut so as to prevent them interfering with any 

 prominences near the part, and, also, to keep exposed for treat- 

 ment, any wound which may have been inflicted at the time of the 

 accident. Before putting on splints, any inequalities on the surface 

 of the part should be filled up with some soft, elastic material, 

 such as cotton wool. Tow, moss, hay or grass can also be used. 

 The following procedure with splints may be adopted in case of frac- 

 ture of any of the bones below the elbow or stifle : — After having 

 placed the parts in position, wind round the leg at least six thick- 

 nesses of cotton wadding, as in sprain (p. 45). Place along the 

 direction of the limb two splints, each of them being a little less 

 than half the width of the circumference of the surface on which 

 they are put. Then apply over the splints an " immovable ban- 

 dage," which will afford firm support and which can be easily re- 

 moved by cutting it through with a pair of scissors, at the space 

 between the splints on each side. This bandage may be of strong 

 calico, about 3 inches broad and 6 or 8 yards long, and can be 

 made adhesive by soaking it in a thick mixture of starch, paste, 

 '' charge composition " (p. 48) without the mercurial ointment, 

 or even common pitch. Evenly distributed and abundant padding 

 is of the highest importance when arranging splints. Care should 

 be taken that the bandage should not be put on too tightly at first ; 

 although, to be of benefit, it must afford firm support. " The 

 Surgeon should always bear in mind that in the treatment of a 

 fractured bone, he can do nothing to promote its union, beyond 

 placing it in a good position. Nature solders the bone together; 

 and the less the Surgeon interferes the better. But it is requisite 

 to examine the limb from time to time, and especially about the 



