144 CANINE AND FELINE SURGERY. 



frequently, and to see that none of the discharge runs down- 

 wards underneath the bandage. 



Fractures of the ribs are treated by placing a broad bandage 

 around the chest and abdomen as tightly as possible without 

 causing inconvenience to the patient. 



Fractures of the jaw necessitate a special splint cut or 

 moulded to the required shape, and kept in position by tape 

 or a wire muzzle,^ the patient being fed artificially by mouth 

 or rectum on liquid nourishment. 



Fractures of the tail are treated in a similar manner to those 

 of the limbs, particular care being taken that the bandage is 

 not put on too tight. 



Fractures in the region of the shoulder, pelvis, and hip, when 

 too high up for bandaging, are treated by the application of a 

 "charge" or plaster, consisting of some such mixture a.s : 

 Resin, one part, Venice turpentine, three parts. Burgundy 

 pitch, five parts, and put on with a spatula whilst hot. The 

 layers may or may not be interspersed with tow cut up very 

 fine. The exterior should always be covered with a piece of 

 calico or some material to prevent it from sticking to the 

 ground when the animal lies down. 



The time for which a permanent bandage requires to remain 

 in position varies from three to six weeks. The patient should 

 be kept as quiet as possible, on no account being allowed to 

 run up and down steps or to jump from any height. The 

 principal untoward sequelae to be feared are : — 



1. That the limb may not be straight afterwards. This fre- 

 quently happens when the bandage is not sufficiently stiff and 

 the patient attempts to bear weight on it too soon. 



2. That union may not take place, or that the union may 

 be a fibrous instead of a bony one. The latter condition gives 

 rise to what is termed a false joint, and not infrequently 

 happens after comminuted fractures or when the injury has 

 not been attended to during the first few days. The internal 



^ Hodgkins, "Veterinarian," Vol. LXIX., p. 902. 



