FRACTURES. m 



The author had a case of fracture of *oth nasal bones. He was enabled to elevate 

 the depressed parts, but the inflammation and swelling were so great, that the 

 animal was threatened with suffocation. The operation of tracheotomy was 

 resorted to, and the animal did well. 



If there is fracture of the nasal bones with depression, and only a little way from 

 the central arch and the section between the nostrils, a slightly curved steel rod 

 may be cautiously introduced into the passage, and the depressed portions 

 carefully raised. If this cannot be effected, the trephine must be applied a 

 little above or below the fracture, and the elevator or steel rod be intro- 

 duced through the aperture. If the fracture is in any other part of the bone, 

 it will be impossible to reach it with the elevator, for the turbinated bones are 

 in the way. The trephine must then be resorted to in the first instance. The 

 wound, if there is any, must be covered, and a compress kept on it. 



A writer in a French journal relates a case in which a horse was violently 

 kicked, and there was a contused wound with depression of bone. The trephine 

 was applied. Fifteen splinters were extracted, and the case terminated well. It 

 nevertheless, too often happens that, in these injuries of the nasal membrane, the 

 inflammation will obstinately continue in despite of all that the surgeon can 

 do, and the natural termination of every injury of the membrane of the nose, 

 and, in fact, of every chronic disease of the frame, will appear — glanders. 



If, however, glanders do not appear, some portion of bone may remain 

 depressed, or the membrane may be thickened by inflammation. The nasal 

 passage will then be obstructed, and a difficulty of breathing, resembling 

 roaring, will ensue. 



The superior maxillary or upper jaw-bone, will occasionally be frac- 

 tured. Mr. Cartwright had a case in which it was fractured by a kick at the 

 situation where it unites with the lachrymal and malar bones. He applied the 

 trephine, and removed many small pieces of bone. The wound was then covered 

 by adhesive plaster, and in a month the parts were healed. 



Mr. Clayworth speaks of a mare who being ridden almost at speed, fell and 

 fractured the upper jaw, three inches above the corner incisors. The front teeth 

 and jaw were turned like a hook completely within the lower ones. She was 

 cast, a balling iron put into her mouth, and the surgeon, exerting considerable 

 force, pulled the teeth outward into their former and proper situation. She 

 was then tied up so that she could not rub her muzzle against any thing, 

 and was well fed with bean-meal, and linseed tea. Much inflammation 

 ensued, but it gradually subsided, and, at the expiration of the sixth week, 

 the mouth was quite healed, and scarcely a vestige of the fracture remained. 



A very extraordinary and almost incredible account of a fracture of the 

 superior maxillary bone is given in the records of the Royal and Central Society 

 of Agriculture in France. A horse was kicked by a companion. There was frac- 

 ture of the upper part of the superior maxillary, and zygomatic bones, and the 

 eye was almost forced out of the socket. Few men would have dared to under- 

 take a fracture like this, but M. Revel shrank not from his duty. He removed 

 several small splinters of bone — replaced the larger bones — returned the eye to 

 its socket— confined the parts by means of sufficient sutures — slung the horse, 

 and rendered it impossible for the animal to rub his head against any thing. 

 In six weeks, the cure was complete. 



The maxillary bone or lower jaw, is more subject to fracture, and par- 

 ticularly in its branches between the tushes and the lower teeth, and at the 

 symphysis between the two branches of the jaw. Its position, its length and 

 the small quantity of muscle that covers it, especially anteriorly, are among 

 the causes of its fracture, and the same circumstances combine to render a re- 

 union of the divided parts more easy to be accomplished. Mr. Blaine relates 



