310 IB^EACTURES. . 



shows fracture on the near side, with Fig. 122). The existence of 

 pain, swelling, and lameness will also indicate the seat of injury. 

 A good recovery may be expected, if a long rest be given. If the 

 resulting deformity was slight, and if the injury had in no way 

 injuriously affected the action, I would not consider this accident, 

 after recovery, to be an unsoundness. 



Ribs. 



These accidents are usually caused by kicks, collisions, falls, or 

 sudden starts into the collar by harness horses. Unless the lungs 

 or pleurae (the membranes which line the ribs and cover the 

 lungs) are penetrated by the broken ends, no bad results need 

 be anticipated. If the fractured ends have wounded the lungs, the 

 tissue beneath the skin will soon become filled with air. This 

 swelling can be distinguished from an effusion of serum or blood 

 by the fact of its emitting a crackling sound when the hand is 

 passed over it. These complicated cases can seldom be treated 

 successfully. It is bad practice to make an external wound for 

 examination. If a compound fracture of this nature exists, the 

 operator should endeavour to convert it into a simple fracture by 

 closing the wound. The external opening may be covered over 

 with a thick coating of jDitch. The practice of bandaging the chest, 

 in cases of broken ribs, does not seem to act well with horses ; al- 

 though it is generally beneficial with human beings. 



It is not very uncommon to see horses with an abrupt depression 

 over one of their ribs, caused by a fracture on some previous 

 occasion. 



Pain evinced at the time of girthing up, is, sometimes, the first 

 indication of a broken rib. 



First Rib. 



CAUSES. — We are indebted particularly to Mr. W. Willis, 

 M.R.C.V.S., Mr. W. Hunting, F.R.C.V.S., and the late Mr. H. G. 

 Rogers, F.R.C.V.S., for demonstrating by numerous post-mortem 

 examinations and by investigating the history of the respective 

 cases, that shoulder lameness is generally caused by fracture of 

 the first rib. This accident usually occurs by the animal making 

 a sudden start forward in harness, when there is a comparatively 

 heavy weight behind him, and especially when he has been hanging 

 back in the collar. Hence, impetuous, nervous, and irritable 

 horses are most liable to get hurt in this manner. We may reason- 

 ably assume that draught horses which have to do their work 

 at a trot, like omnibus horses, are more apt to fracture the first 



