312 



The iniiiiinuin period allowable for solid union in a fractured hip is, 

 in our judgment, two months, and we have known cases in which that 

 was too short a time. 



As we have before said, there may be cases in which the treatment 

 for fracture at the floor of the pelvis has been followed by symptoms of 

 l^artial paral^^sis, the animal, when lying down, being unable to regain 

 his feet, but moving freely when i)4aced in an upright position. This 

 condition is due to the interference of the callus with the functions of 

 the obturator nerve, which it jiresses upon or surrounds. We feel war- 

 ranted by our experience in similar cases in cautioning owners of horses 

 in this condition to exercise due patience, and to avoid a premature 

 sentence of condemnation against their invalid servants ; they are not 

 all irrecoverably paralytic. With alternations of moderate exercise, rest 

 in the slings, and the eflect of time while the natural process of absorp- 

 tion is taking effect ui^on the callus, with other elements of change that 

 may be so operating, the horse may in due time become able to once 

 more earn his subsistence and serve his master. 



Fracture of the scapula. — This bone is seldom fractured, its compara- 

 tive exemption being due to its free mobility and the protection it re- 

 ceives from the superimposed soft tissues. Only direct and powerful 

 causes are sufiBcieut to effect the injury, and when it occurs the large 

 rather than the smaller animals are the subjects. The causes are heavy 

 blows or kicks, and violent collisions with unyielding objects. Those 

 which are occasioned by falls are generally at the neck of the bone, and 

 of the transverse and comminuted varieties. 



The diagnosis is not always easy. The symptoms are inability to rest 

 the leg on the ground and to carry weights, and they are present in 

 various degrees from slight to severe The leg rests upon the toe and 

 seems shortened, and locomotion is performed by jumps. Moving the 

 leg while examining it and raising the foot for inspection seem to pro- 

 duce much pain and cause the animal to rear. Crepitation is readily 

 felt with the hand upon the shoulder when the leg is moved. If the 

 fracture occurs in the upper part of the bone, overlapping of the frag- 

 ments and displacement will be considerable. 



The fracture of this bone is usually classed among the more serious 

 accidents, though cases may occur which are followed by recovery with- 

 out very serious ultimate results, especially when the seat of the injury 

 is at some of the upper angles of the bone, or about the acromion crest. 

 But if the neck and the joint are the parts involved, complications are 

 apt to be present which are likely to disable the animal for life. 



If there is no disi)lacement a simple adhesive dressing, to strengthen 

 and immobilize the ijarts, will be sufficient. A coat of black pitch dis- 

 solved with wax and Venice turpentine, and kept in place over the 

 region with oakum or linen bands, will be all the treatment required, 

 especially if the animal is kept quiet in the slings. 



Displacement cannot be remedied, and reduction is next to impos- 



