- 512 VETERINARY SURGICAL THERAPEUTICS. 
-Lyon clinic in 1854, one analogous observation was made in the 
horse; here the coxo and pubio femoral ligaments were torn at théir 
insertion on the femur. In an aged mule, used for surgical purposes, 
which had fallen with both hind legs carried in great abduction, the post- 
mortem revealed a complete luxation of the right hip; both articular 
surfaces were intact, and the ligaments torn from the femoral head. 
These facts establish beyond a doubt the possibility of a luxation of 
the hip without fracture of the articular surfaces. However, in many 
cases, the accident is complicated either with fracture or with epiphysar 
- separation of the head of the femur—in young animals (Arloing). In 
the observation that Goubaux communicated to the Société centrale de 
Médecine Vétérinaire (1875), and which related to an old femoral luxa- 
‘tion, the head of the femur was fractured, and nearly its two internal 
‘thirds had disappeared. The horse whose autopsy was made by 
Peteaux, presented a complete and longitudinal fracture of the neck of 
the femur; the internal half was held at the bottom of the cotyloid 
cavity by the coxo and pubio femoral ligaments almost intact. In the 
horse of Weber, a bony fragment from the head of the femur was loose, 
and one from the coxal was adherent to the superior extremity of the 
anterior straight muscle of the thigh. . 
As complication of luxation, one may also meet with fracture of the 
trochanter or of one of the pelvic bones. The surrounding muscles are 
more or less lacerated. In the mule, just spoken of, there was a com- 
~plete laceration of the vastus internus, at its femoral insertion; and of 
the gemini of the pelvis near their middle, as well as laceration and 
~partial ruptures of the psoas iliacus, internal and external obturator. 
' However serious the accident may be, the symptoms are imme- 
--diately well marked; at rest, the standing takes place by the toe or the 
plantar surface ; in walking, the leg, deviated outwards, is carried all in 
one piece, with an abduction movement. The trochanter forms some- 
times a marked projection in external luxation ; it partly disappears in 
internal. The length of the leg is diminished or increased, according 
as the head of the femur is displaced upwards or downwards. It is 
generally possible to differentiate luxation from violent bruises or frac- 
tures. If the injury is left to itself, the animal may. die from exhaustion ; 
however, most ordinarily, the femoral head makes for itself a new cavity, 
walking becomes possible, but there always. remains great lameness. 
’ Callot has observed two steers in which it was yet well marked thirteen 
months after the accident. Lafosse has registered cases of perfect 
recovery.. He has seen, after nine months, emaciated muscles resume 
their normal size; the direction and the action of the-extremity were 
-normal. ; 
