ffiACTURE OF THE SKULL, NASAL BOKGS, JAW-BONE. 335 



crosis, (diseased bones), or the fracture being compound, oi 

 broken into numerous spiculae or splinters. 



In a horse that is full of flesh, the cure of fracture is difficult ; 

 likewise in an old or worn-out horse — or when the part is inac- 

 cessible to the hand or to instruments — or when separation has 

 taken place between the parts that were beginning to unite — or 

 when the surrounding tissues have been or are losing their vital, 

 ity — or when the patient is already afflicted with any old or 

 permanent disease. 



It may be useful briefly to review the various seats of fracture- 



Fractuke of the skull. — Fracture of the skull is generally 

 accompanied by stupidity, convulsive motions of the head or 

 limbs, laborious breathing, and a staggering walk. The eyes are 

 almost or quite closed, the head is carried low, and the lower lip 

 hangs down. There are various instances on record of a portion 

 of the depressed bone being removed and the animal recovering ; 

 and in some instances, a reunion of the depressed bones has taken 

 place, leaving a permanent depression of the outer surface of the 

 skuU. 



Fracture of the nasal bones. — This will sometimes occur 

 from falling, or be produced by a kick from another horse, or the 

 brutality of the attendant or the rider. A fracture of this kind 

 is generally accompanied by a laceration of the membrane of the 

 nose, and considerable hemorrhage, (flow of blood,) which, how 

 ever, may generally be arrested by the application of cold water. 

 The fractured portion of bone is usually depressed, and, the space 

 for breathing being diminished, difficulty of respiration occurs. 



If there is fracture of the nasal bones, with depression, and 

 only a httle way from the central' arch and the section between 

 the nostrils, a slightly curved steel rod may be cautiously intro- 

 iluced into the passage, and the depressed portions carefuUy raised. 

 If this cannot be efiected, the trephine must be applied a little 

 above or below the fracture, and the elevator, or steel rod, be in 

 troduced through the aperture. If the fracture is in any other 

 part of the bone, it vidll be impossible to reach it with the eleva- 

 tor, for the turbinated bones are in the way. The trephine must 

 then be resorted to in the first instance. The wound, if there is 

 any, must be covered, and a compress kept on it. 



The superior maxillary, or upper jaw-bone, will occasion- 

 ally be fractured. Mr. Cartwright had a case in which it was 

 fractured by a kick at the situation where it unites with the lac- 

 rymal and malar bones. He applied the trephine, and removed 

 many small pieces of bone. The wound was then covered by 

 adhesive plaster, and in a month the parts were healed. 



. Mr. Clayworth speaks of a mare which, being ridden almost 

 At speed, fell and fractured the upper jaw, three inches above the 



