THE SKELETON. 403 



are rubbed together. Soon swelling sets in and renders 

 diagnosis obscure. 



Treatment comprises restoration of tbe fragments to 

 their natural position, and maintaining them there in a 

 state of rest until union has been completed. This takes 

 over a month, so that such cases are rather serious ones 

 to take in hand. ^^ Setting the bone,^^ can best be 

 effected by extension and counter-extension, but the 

 details must vary with the part affected. Eetention may 

 be accomplished by bandages, compresses, or splints ; 

 the latter are made of leather, gutta percha (warmed in 

 hot water), or some other soft yielding substance, and 

 must not be bound on too closely, but allowance made for 

 the swelling which will ensue. These are retained in 

 position by a starch bandage, which gives even pressure ; 

 depressions below the splints must be padded in such a 

 way as to secure this. A pitch-plaster is useful in some 

 cases where splints and bandages cannot be applied. To 

 secure as much rest as possible the patient should be 

 housed and allowed a good bed and regular laxative diet. 

 Of particular fractures we may specify — 



Fracture of the Horns, — It is often seen, especially in 

 young animals which have been fighting. The horn core may 

 be fractured transversely without injury of the horn ; the 

 latter then will act as splints. When both core and horn 

 have been broken off, haemorrhage will be profuse, and 

 must be restrained by pressure, or, if necessary, by the 

 actual cautery. The opening extending into the frontal 

 sinuses must then be covered with a tarred cloth, which 

 must not be bound on too closely, or it may give rise to 

 exostotic growth from the exposed bone as in a case before 

 us, where the tumour measures about two feet ten inches 

 in longitudinal circumference, and weighs about five 

 pounds. Anything of this kind must be removed with 

 a saw. An imperfect horny covering will, in due time, 

 invest the exposed extremity. 



Fracture of the Metacarpal or Metatarsal Bone, 

 when compound or comminuted, may be treated by 

 amputation, performed as recommended for foul. 



