304 The Farmer^s Veterinary Adviser. 



unnatural mobility of the part, and the suddenness of the 

 injury from a wrong step or some mechanical violence. 

 In cracks and partial fractures of bones with a strong in- 

 vesting fibrous membrane, there may be no displacement, 

 increased mobility nor grating, but only a tender hne 

 across the bone with or without a shght elevation. 



Treatment- The first thing to be done is to bring the 

 broken ends into correct apposition and retain them there 

 by sphnts and bandages. No matter if the soft parts are 

 inflamed and swoUen, to leave the sharp ends jerking into 

 them with each contraction of the muscles, wiQ only make 

 matters worse, whereas the removal of this source of irri- 

 tation will usually entail immediate improvement. If from 

 the oblique or comminuted nature of the fracture the 

 bones cannot be so placed and retained, recovery need not 

 be expected, at least without distortion. 



To bring the ends together accurately, it may be nec- 

 essary to employ extension and counter-extension. A 

 strong sheet or blanket is crossed over the inside of the 

 upper part of the Hmb and held to keep the body still; 

 while extension is effected by lines attached to the foot , 

 a block and tackle may be used, but cautiously, in view of 

 the increased power thereby obtained. It may even be 

 needful to relax the muscles by placing the animal under 

 the influence of ether, chloroform, or chloral-hydrate. 

 Wliile the limb is being extended the operator brings the 

 broken ends together correctly, and splints are appHed. 



These may be made of sheets of gutta-percha softened 

 in warm water and appHed so as to adapt themselves to 

 the inequalities of the limb ; of strong pasteboard with the 

 edges torn (not cut) and softened in water to allow of its 

 being moulded to the surface ; of starch bandage, a long 

 cotton bandage three inches wide, laid on accurately, layer 

 above layer, and starched as applied so that it dries into 

 a perfectly fitting and hard resisting case ; a plaster band- 

 age consisting of a long roU of the same kind with plaster 

 of Paris thickly dusted between its layers, and the whole 



