DISLOCATIONS. 251 
teaspoonful to one tablespoonful, two or three times daily, a decrease being 
necessary if the bowels become too loose. 
If it seems advisable to stop the cod-liver oil for a time, the beef, iron and 
wine may be properly given instead. 
Pure fresh air, ample sunlight, and dry, well ventilated quarters are impera- 
tive. Indeed every helpful influence to be gained by good management should 
be brought to bear during the treatment. 
Marked deformities are not likely to be entirely obliterated, yet under good 
treatment the improvement is often surprising. 
DISLOCATIONS. 
Of dislocations and fractures the reader should have some knowledge; not 
that he be encouraged to undertake their treatment, but that he may be at least 
led to strongly suspect, if not detect with certainty, such accidents when they 
occur. 
A bone is said to be dislocated when it is “out of joint.” To be a trifle more 
explicit, a dislocation is the displacement of one bone from another at its place 
of natural connection. When entirely displaced the dislocation is called “com- 
plete ;” when not so, “partial” or “incomplete.” It is called “compound” when 
with the dislocation there is an open wound that communicates with the affected 
joint; and “complicated” when there is a fracture of bone or laceration of a 
blood-vessel in addition to the dislocation. 
Dogs but rarely suffer from dislocations ; and when so unfortunate, the acci- 
dents are generally the results of falling or jumping from considerable heights, 
being run over, having a foot caught and hung by the same when attempting to 
jump fences, or of kicks or blows. 
The ends of bones are closely covered by cartilage or, as commonly called, 
“gristle,” which furnishes smooth bearings for the connecting bones, while they 
are held together by a very tough tissue, termed ligament, which envelops them 
completely like a tight bag. This bag is called a capsule, and is lined by a deli- 
cate membrane known as the synovial membrane, which secretes a fluid that 
lubricates the joint, and is called the joint-water or synovial fluid. This capsule 
alone is not sufficient to hold the bones together, hence it is fortified or strength- 
ened by short bands or ligaments constructed of similar substance, which extend 
from one bone to its connecting bone, and cover the capsule. Aside from these 
attachments there are other ligaments within the capsules of certain joints which 
connect the ends of the bones directly with each other. 
In all dislocations but of the lower jaw the capsule described splits to allow 
the dislocated end of the bone to escape; while the short ligaments, tendons, 
and muscles which cover the joint are more or less injured. Fortunately, how- 
