THE LIMBS AND TAIL 



335 



laid on in such a way as to keep the hmb rigid. One or two 

 narrow bandages which have been smeared with solution 

 of gum, glue, pitch, starch, or plaster of Paris, are then 

 neatly wound round the whole. Gum is particularly valuable 

 on account of the objection the animal shows to attempting 

 to bite it off. Solutions of those substances should be made 

 thick, care being taken that the external bandage dries and 

 is hard before the patient is allowed to put the limb to the 

 ground. It is always a wise precaution, if the severity of the 



Fig. 215.— Swelling of the Foot due to Too Tight a Bandage. 



case needs a tight bandage, to include the foot, as if this 

 organ is left free, and circulation is impeded above it, the 

 toes may become swollen and, if not attended to, gan- 

 grenous (see Fig. 215). 



With a compound facture, particularly in the cat, much 

 difficulty is often experienced ; in many cases the quickest way 

 to recovery is to amputate the limb at once, above the seat 

 of injury (see p. 341). When an attempt is made to treat it 



