Special Injuries of Bones, Joints and Muscles. 337 



tl;<^ bone is ossified, giving rise to permanent thickening, 

 and exudation outside the membrane may follow a similar 

 course, causing a very considerable swelling. In the more 

 severe cases, the abundant exudation, separating the 

 membrane from the bone, may cut off the supply of blood 

 imd entail necrosis; or the lymph may degenerate into 

 pus which burrows beneath the membrane, separating it 

 from the bone and destroying the life of the latter. 



Treatment. In mild cases treat hke splints. In the 

 very severe with great tenderness and doughy swelling of 

 the bone, make a series of incisions through the membrane 

 covering the bone, with a very narrow-bladed knife and 

 by valvular wounds, passing the blade a short distance 

 beneath the skin before cutting down on the bone. Then 

 apply the lotion advised for broken knees. 



FKACTUBE OF THE SPLINT BONES. 



The lower ends of the small bones of the shank are 

 liable to be broken, the lesion being made out by the 

 swelling at the point and the unnatural mobility of the 

 lower end of the bone, though grating is not to be ex- 

 pected. No treatment is needed beyond a cooling bandage 

 and rest. 



FBACTUEE OF THE SHANK-BONE. 



This is broken by kicks, blows, or simply by con- 

 cussion in exercise. The superficial position of the 

 bone renders all distortion very apparent, and this Tvith 

 the impossibility of resting weight on the limb and the 

 grating of the broken ends when handled are unmistak- 

 able. 



Treatment. If comminuted, as it often is, the animal 

 had best be slaughtered. If only compound, hopes may 

 be entertained, especially in yoimg animals, an opening 

 being made in the bandage to dress the wound. If sim- 

 ple and the fracture not too oblique, nothing is easier than 

 to set it, to envelop it in a bandage extending over and 

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