210 THE HOESE IN HEALTH AND DISEASE 



bone is broken into three or more pieces. Besides these, there may- 

 be recognized complete, incomplete, transverse, longitudinal, 

 greenstick, double, and triple fractures. 



The horse, according to records compiled from many cases, 

 breaks the tibia eighteen times to the pelvis sixteen, first phalanx 

 thirteen, and radius eight times. When the point of the hip is 

 chipped or fractured the animal is said to be "hipped." It does 

 not often cause lameness or diminish usefulness. 



The first symptom of fracture is the inability to support weight, 

 which causes the animal to go on three legs. Usually pain is 

 evinced, although fractures of the pelvic and some other bones may 

 be almost painless. When the fractured ends of the bone are dis- 

 placed a swelling results. Other symptoms are abnormal mobility, 

 or the appearance of an extra joint, and crepitation, or the charac- 

 teristic grating sound caused by the rubbing together of the broken 

 pieces of bone. Severe fractures greatly derange the general con- 

 dition of the animal. 



The treatment of a fracture is much more difficult in animals 

 than in the human patient for they fight restraint. The fracture 

 must first be reduced; that is, the ends of the broken bone replaced 

 in the normal position. These ends must then be retained in 

 position until "knitting" has been completed. It may be necessary 

 to exert traction to get the ends in apposition. 



Various schemes have been devised to hold the fractured bone 

 in position. Metal or wood splints are most commonly employed. 

 These are held by plaster-of-Paris bandages, which harden on expo- 

 sure to the air into a firm cast. If no skin wound is present, a thin 

 layer of cotton batting, held in place by a woolen bandage, is 

 applied under the cast. Care should be used not to get the ban- 

 dage too tight, as the circulation would be interfered with. 



Slings are used to keep the patient in the standing position. 

 A narrow stall is best, as it affords opportunity for support from 

 leaning against the sides. Laxative, nutritious foods must be 

 supplied with plenty of green fodder and mineral substances to aid 

 nature in repairing the bone. Horses must be kept at least seven 

 weeks in the slings, and should not be put to work for three months. 



Complications of various kinds may follow fractures. Prob- 

 ably septicemia is the most common in cases where a compound 

 fracture exists. Founder and tetanus are others. When the ends 

 are not kept in contact during the healing process, one leg becomes 



