Accidents and Operations. 379 



lessness or wrong adjustment of the splints, it frequently 

 happens that the limb after union presents a deformed and 

 unsightly appearance. A broken-haired terrier was re- 

 cently brought to me for advice regarding the condition of 

 a united fore-leg fractured above the knee (radius and ulna), 

 which had been set with leather splints-^the limb was bent 

 outwards to such an extent as to be almost useless. (See 

 Fig- 37.) 



Having placed the animal under chloroform, I re-fractured 

 the bone at the original seat ; having only been done a 

 month, this was not a difficult task. The limb being then 

 brought into proper position, I applied the ordinary wood 

 splints with pitch and bandages, and in five weeks after- 

 ■ wards I had the gratification of seeing my patient perfectly 

 recovered, and with two straight fore-legs. 



^Compound Fracture is occasionally met with in the long 

 bones of the. limbs. If the end of the bone protrude through 

 the opening, and from the smallness of the latter replace- 

 ment is difficult, either the protruded bone must be removed 

 with a fine saw or bone-nippers, or the wound enlarged. 

 When comminution is also present, any completely de- 

 tached fragments of bone should be removed, otherwise they 

 will act as foreign bodies, create inflammation and suppur- 

 ation, and prevent the healing process. In the application of 

 splints, it will be necessary to arrange them so that the 

 wound may be readily exposed when requisite. 



Fracture with Liixation. — When fracture occurs with dis- 

 location, the treatment is doubly difficult, as the dislocation 

 must first be reduced ; this, under the circumstances, 'is no 

 easy task, and then the fracture is to be attended to. Oc- 

 casionally it is necessary to have recourse to the latter first, 

 in order to permit the extension required to reduce the dis- 

 location ; after which it ia generally advisable to reset the 

 fracture, owing to the unavoidable displacement consequent 

 on the operation. 



