bones: diseases and accidents. 275 



inent, and impeded respiration, owing to the lessening of the caliber 

 of the nasal passages. 



When such an accident occurs, the depressed bone should be gently 

 forced back to place by introducing the finger in the nostril, or if the 

 fracture be too far up for this, a probe may be passed and the parts 

 retained by placing a plaster of thin leather or strong canvas smeared 

 with tar immediately over it, extending out to the sound surround- 

 ings, taking care to embed the hair over the fractured portion in the 

 tar of the plaster so it will be firmly held and prevented from again 

 becoming depressed. If only one nostril should be involved, the 

 depressed portion may be held in position by packing the nostril on 

 that side with absorbent cotton. This practice, however, has the 

 objection of giving the animal great discomfort, and in some cases a 

 disposition to aggravate the injury. 



Fracture of the sextll (cranium). — Fractures of the bones 

 forming the cavity iu which the brain is situated are, owing to their 

 strength, comparatively rare among cattle. Such an accident can 

 only be the result of external violence, and it is hardly possible that 

 it could occur without some fragment of the broken bone pressing 

 upon the brain so as to cause coma or other severe nervous derange- 

 ment, or even death. 



If the animal survives the first shock, the efforts should be directed 

 toward relieving the pressure, which may be done by making an open- 

 ing in the bone (trephining) and with a hook drawing the depressed 

 part outward. Interference is not so likely to be attended with good 

 results as to be warranted in all cases. The effects of a very severe 

 shock which may not have -produced a fracture, although the symp- 

 toms were alarming, will in many cases pass off, leaving the animal 

 in a better condition than if an operation had been performed. 



Fracture op the lower jaw. — This occasionally occurs, and is 

 more likely to result from the kick of a horse than from any other 

 cause. The front part of the jaw is likely to be split or shattered in 

 any direction in which the force may have been applied. Bloody dis- 

 charges from the mouth and failure to eat or ruminate are symptoms 

 most likely to attract attention. 



The treatment is simple, and consists of first removing detached 

 pieces of bone, then drawing the parts together and retaining them by 

 means of pieces of copper wire fastened around the teeth, and feeding 

 the animal on sloppy food until recovery takes place. The wound 

 should be dressed once or twice a day with a 3 per cent solution of 

 carbolic acid, forced gently in with a syringe, so as to remove any food 

 which may have become impacted and interfere with the healing 

 process. 



Fracture of the vertebra (spinal column). — This is not so 

 common among cattle as other animals. If the fracture should be 

 through the body of the bone there is likely to be pressure on or lace- 



