3^o CANIXE AXD FELINE SC/A'CEA'V 



5. Septicaemia, especially in compound fractures. 



In the event of a false joint forming, in cases of gangrene 

 and septicaemia, and in some instances of compound fracture, 

 it often happens that amputation (see p. 341) offers the only 

 chance of a successful issue. 



With a false joint the operation of wiring or pegging the 

 bones together is worth a trial. 



Operation for uniting- Fractures by Wire or Bone Peg's. 



This must be performed under general anaesthesia, and 

 with strict attention to antiseptic details (see p. 2). The 



Fig. 220. — Comminuted Fracture of a Digit.^ 



ends of the fractured bones are cut down upon, all fibrous 

 union is carefully scraped away, two or more holes are bored 

 with an awl or brace and bit, and the pieces are united by 

 flexible silver wire or specially prepared peg splints. The 

 author has had one successful result in a small toy dog by 

 using strong silkworm gut. The site of operation is then 

 covered up and the skin sutured and covered with iodoform 

 colloid, the leg being fixed in a splint and bandaged. 



The Prognosis is hopeful, especially in cases in which the 

 false joint has not been in existence for \cry long. If the 



1 Foi other skiagraphs illustrating fractures, see Chapter XXI 11. 



