DISLOCATIONS. 253 
bone has been fractured. Diagnosis of this accident is easily made. If both 
sides are out of joint the lower jaw projects much beyond the upper, and the 
mouth is wide open and cannot be closed unless great violence is exhibited. 
If only one side is out, the tip of the jaw is turned obliquely, usually towards 
the unaffected side. Whereas in fracture of that bone the tip is toward the 
injured side. When it is dislocated a depression can always be felt at the place 
of the joint, while in front of it there is a hard bunch. With the mouth wide 
open there is constant drooling ; the tongue soon becomes purplish ; the eyes are 
forced into unusual prominence —they bulge as it were; there is great pain; 
and the poor dog is constantly on the move. 
This dislocation can be reduced in two ways. The first, which is’ the sim- 
plest, is sure to be successful with most of the small breeds, and ought to be 
equally so with the largest. The operator should bandage both thumbs with 
napkins; or possibly very thick gloves may afford sufficient protection. The 
dog being firmly held by assistants, he should stand or kneel in front of him 
and introduce his thumbs, one on each side of the jaw, until they rest upon the last 
lower teeth. Steady pressure must then be made upon the teeth downward and 
backward, while the tip of the jaw is slightly lifted with the little and ring fingers. 
By this means the heads of the bone are lowered ; and when sufficiently low they 
slide back into place. The jaws then snap together with considerable force, 
the irritated muscles contracting firmly, hence the importance of protecting the 
thumbs with several folds of linen or thick buckskin gloves. 
The other method of reduction is for the operator to sit or kneel on the 
floor with the dog’s head between his legs. A couple of corks or pieces of soft 
wood, or even a single piece, are placed upon the last lower teeth, one on each 
side if two are used, then with one hand over the upper jaw and the other grasp- 
ing the tip of the lower, the latter should be drawn steadily upward, the cork or 
wood acting as a fulcrum; and the bone should soon slip into place. 
Dislocation of the jaw of a dog is so difficult, after it has once occurred there 
is scarcely any danger of recurrence without severe injury being inflicted ; there- 
fore it would not be necessary to apply after-treatment by muzzling, as writers 
are accustomed to advise. 
Dislocation of the elbow is less rare than like injury of the lower jaw. Great 
force is required to produce it, and extensive laceration of the ligaments is inevi- 
table. It is usually caused by a direct blow upon the elbow or an indirect one 
on the foot, by a fall from a great height, or sudden and severe twist. This 
joint is complicated, and several displacements may occur which can scarcely be 
understood without a fair knowledge of its structure; yet unless several hours 
have elapsed since it happened, and there is consequently much swelling, a dis- 
placement ought to be easily made out; the leg being kept flexed and the joint 
immovable. 
A reduction of the dislocation is readily effected and without much difficulty. 
