Accidents and Operations. 371 



when the outside of the bone splits away similar to a tough 

 twig when bent to break, is occasionally met with (Fig. 

 34). This, in human surgery, is termed green-stick frac- 

 ture, an illustration of which I once had in one of my 



Fig. 34. 



incomplete fracture. 



children, by falling from the back of a pony on to his hand 

 and fracturing the radius in the manner described. 



Fracture without separation, is when a bone is starred, 

 as it were, and held together by the periosteum ; it is rare 

 in the dog, though common in the horse. 



The long bones are those most liable to fracture, more 

 especially those of the extremities. Fracture of the scapula, 

 pelvis, ribs, cranium, and vertebrae are occasionally met 

 with in the dog, and therefore demand notice in these 

 pages. 



In the human being there are various predisposing causes 

 of fracture. In the dog they are invariably the result of 

 direct violence. The usual symptoms of limb-fracture are : 

 deformity, loss of muscular power, pain, swelling, and 

 crepitus. The reparative process in the dog is remarkably 

 rapid, and, as a rule, when the parts are placed in situ and 

 the splints applied, the animal seems to understand the 

 injured limb is not to be interfered with, and is contented 

 to remain quiet. 



The treatment of fracture consists in reducing the s'epa- 

 rated portions to their proper position and maintaining 

 them there when so reduced by the application of splints 

 and bandages. 



Splints may be composed of wood, pasteboard, leather, 

 or gutta-percha. The three first-named are retained in 

 position by bandaging. The latter is rendered soft with 

 B B— 2 



