268 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



mal slipping with both hind feet sideways so as to twist ihe back, or 

 the feet slipping violently backward so that great stress is thrown on 

 the loins. The patient moves with difficulty, using the hind parts in 

 a guarded manner as if afraid of causing severe pain. Occasionally, 

 if the sprain is severe, the animal will rise with difficulty. Pressure 

 on the back in the immediate region of the loins causes pain. Such 

 cases may be mistaken for paralysis, and, in fact, in severe cases, 

 although the nerve supply is not interfered with, the injury to the 

 muscles and resulting pain is so great that the condition is almost 

 equal to paralysis during the early stages of the injury, although 

 likely to be attended with more favorable results. Hot applications, 

 such as blankets wrung out of hot water and changed at short inter- 

 vals, will be likely to afford relief during the earlier stages. After- 

 wards the blister mentioned for sprain of the shoulder may be applied 

 with advantage. 



FRACTURES (BROKEN BONES) 



Bones may be accidentally broken in many ways and from different 

 causes. Fractures in general are likely to be produced by external 

 force suddenly and violently applied, either directly to the part or at a 

 distance, the force being transmitted through the stronger bones until 

 it expends itself by breaking a weaker one remote from the seat of 

 the injury. Occasionally violent contraction of muscles is sufficient 

 to break a bone. Certain bones, those of the limbs in particular, are 

 more liable to fracture than others, owing to their exposed position. 

 The bones of some animals are more easily fractured than those of 

 others, owing to certain predisposing causes, such as age, habit, or 

 hereditary constitutional weakness. The bones of an animal advanced 

 in years are more subject to fracture because of the preponderance 

 of inorganic matter rendering them more brittle. They are also occa- 

 sionally rendered liable to fracture by a previously existing diseased 

 condition. Fractures are divided into four classes — partial, simple, 

 compound, and comminuted. 



PARTIAL FRACTURES. 



Partial fractures are those which are likely to occur in a young 

 animal in which the preponderance of animal matter or the semicarti- 

 laginous condition of the bone renders it tough, so that even when 

 considerable force is applied the bone bends, breaking on the side 

 opposite that to which the force was applied, after the manner in 

 which a green stick would bend and break. 



SIMPLE FRACTURES. 



Simple fracture is one in which the bone is severed in two parts, 

 either transversely, longitudinally, or obliquely, without serious injury 

 to the adjoining structures. 



