FRACTURES—DISLOCATIONS. 431 
pretty well, but is not equal to a well-applied bandage. Fractures 
of the limbs may be set by extending the broken ends, and then 
carefully applying wooden or gutta-percha splints lined with two 
or three thicknesses of coarse fannel; they are bound round with 
tapes and tied, and kept on till the end of three weeks or a month, 
reapplying them if necessary. This, however, requires some prac- 
tical experience to perform properly. If there is much local injury 
it is better to apply the splints very loosely for the first week, keep- 
ing the whole wrapped in folds of linen dipped in the lotion (53). 
In all cases the dog must be strictly kept to his kennel, and the limbs 
should not be strained by allowing him to jump up and down on a 
bench, a low bed being provided. In five or six weeks the thigh or 
hind-leg is united, and the fore-leg in three weeks or a month. 
Dislocations occur in the shoulder and elbow very rarely, in the 
knee and toes commonly, in the hip very often, in the stifle occa- 
sionally, and in the hock very seldom, except in connection with 
fracture. In all cases they are detected by the deformity occurring 
in any of these joints, which is not capable of restoration by gentle 
handling, and is not accompanied by the crepitus which marks the 
fracture. To reduce a dislocation, two persons must lay firm hold 
of the two parts of the limb on each side of the injured joint, and 
then extending them strongly, the head of the bone in slight and 
recent cases will be felt to slip into the socket. It is only, how- 
ever, in the knee that any inexperienced operator is likely to suc- 
ceed, for in the hip, which is the most common seat of dislocation, 
great tact and knowledge of the anatomy of the part are required 
to effect a cure. Here the head of the bone may be removed from 
the socket in three different directions, namely, either forwards, 
upwards, or backwards, and the pull must be in the direction of 
the socket, or it will do harm rather than good. At the same 
time, while an assistant is making the extension, the operator 
himself, with his hand or a towel, lifts the thigh from the body, 
with the view of raising the head of the bone over the edge of 
the cup, into which it is his object to conduct it. Chloroform 
should always be given during the operation, if the attempt is 
not immediately successful when made directly after the accident, 
inasmuch as it relaxes the muscles in a remarkable manner, and 
enables the operator to proceed without being counteracted by 
