FRACTURES. 



143 



on in such a way as to keep the limb rigid. One or two 

 narrow bandages which have been smeared with solution of 

 gum, glue, pitch, starch or plaster of Paris, are then neatly 

 wound round the whole. Gum is particularly valuable on 

 account of the objection the animal shows to attempting to 

 bite it off. Solutions of those substances should be made 

 thick, care being taken that the external bandage dries and 

 is hard before the patient is allowed to put the limb to the 

 gi-ound. It is always a wise precaution, if the severity of the 

 case needs a tight bandage, to include the foot, as if this organ 

 is left free and circulation is impeded above it the result is that 

 the toes become swollen and, if not attended to, gangrenous. 



Fig. 75. 

 Photo showing characteristic attitude when both fore legs are broken. 



With a compound fracture, particularly in the cat, much 

 difficulty is often experienced ; in many cases the quickest 

 way to recovery is to amputate the limb above the seat of 

 injury. When an attempt is 'made to treat it otherwise, the 

 wound is carefully cleansed with an antiseptic and dried 

 thoroughly, a bandage and splints being applied as for a 

 simple fracture, but a window being left in it in order that 

 the wound may be dressed ; this "window" can be formed by 

 placing a pill box lid over the wound when bandaging and 

 afterwards removing it by cutting out the parts above with 

 scissors. Particular care must be taken to dress the wound 



