406 FRACTURES. 



vitality— or when the patient is already afflicted with any old or permanent 



disease. 



It may be useful briefly to review the various seats of fracture. 

 Fracture op the skull.— The skull of the horse is so securely defended 

 by the yielding resistance of the temporal muscle, that fracture rarely occurs 

 except at the occipital ridge ; and should a depression of bone be there effected, 

 it will produce complete coma, and bid defiance to all surgical skill. Fracture 

 of the skull is generally accompanied by stupidity, convulsive motions of the 

 head or limbs, laborious breathing, and a staggering walk. The eyes are 

 almost or quite closed, the head is carried low, and the lower lip hangs down. 

 Blows on the cranium, which the brutality of man too often inflicts, as well as 

 many accidents, are very serious matters, and require considerable attention, for, 

 although it may have been ascertained that the cranium is uninjured, there 

 may be considerable concussion of the brain. 



It having been known that a horse had received a violent blow on the head, 

 the strictest examination of the part should take place. An artillery horse 

 broke loose from his groom, and, after galloping about, dashed in to his own 

 Btall with such force as sadly to cut his face under the forelock. The farrier 

 on duty sewed up the wound, proper dressings were applied, and in a little more 

 than a fortnight the wound was healed and the horse dismissed, apparently well. 

 Four days afterwards the patient moved stiffly; the jaws could not be separated 

 more than a couple of inches, and there was evident locked jaw. The horse 

 was cast, and the place where the wound had been was most carefully examined. 

 On cutting to the bottom of it, a fracture was discovered, and a piece of bone 

 three-fourths of an inch long was found on the centre of the parietal suture. 

 This was removed — the wound was properly dressed, and a strong aloetic drink 

 was given with great difficulty. The aloetic drink was repeated — the bowels 

 became loosened — the tetanic symptoms diminished, and in less than three 

 weeks the horse was perfectly cured.* 



This is a very interesting case. There was some carelessness in entrusting 

 the treatment of the wound to the farrier ; but the surgeon afterwards repaired 

 the error as well as he could, and no one was better pleased than he was at the 

 result. A violent blow being received on the forehead, the part should always 

 be most carefully examined. 



Hurtrel D'Arboval relates three cases of fracture of the skull. One occurred 

 In a mare that ran violently against a carriage. The skull was depressed, and a 

 portion of bone was removed, but it was four months ere complete re-union of 

 the edges was effected. Another horse received a violent kick on the forehead. 

 The union of the depressed bones was effected after the external wound was 

 healed, but there was always a depression, an inch in length. An aged mare 

 met with the same accident. A depression here remained as large as a finger. 



Fracture op thk arch op the orbit op the eye. — A very interesting 

 account of this, followed by perfect cure, is related at p. 136. 



Fracture op the nasal bones. — This will sometimes occur from falling, or 

 be produced by a kick from another horse, or the brutality of the attendant 

 or the rider. We have seen a passionate man strike a horse about the head 

 with a heavy-hunting whip. The danger of punishment of this kind is obvious ; 

 and so would be the propriety of using the whip for another purpose. A fracture 

 of this kind is generally accompanied by a laceration of the membrane of the nose, 

 and considerable hasmorrhage, which, however, may generally be arrested by the 

 application of cold water. The fractured portion of bone is usually depressed, 

 and, the space for breathing being diminished, difficulty of respiration occurs. 



* Vcterinaiian vol. vii. p. 142. 



