LAMENESS: ITS CAUSES AND TREATMENT. 325 



ture exists in a short bone, near a movable joint, or in a bone of a 

 region where several short and small bones are united in a group, or 

 even in a long bone the situation of which is such that the muscular 

 covering prevents the visible manifestation of the symptom. 



If the situation of a fracture precludes its discovery by means of 

 this abnormal flexibility, other modes of detection remain. There is 

 one method which is absolute and positive and which can be applied 

 in by far the most, though not in all cases. This is crepitation, or the 

 peculiar effect which is produced by the friction of the fractured sur- 

 faces one against another. Though discerned by the organs of hear- 

 ing it can scarcely be called a sound, for the grating of the parts as 

 the rubbing takes place is more felt than heard ; however, there is no 

 mistaking its import in cases favorable for the application of the 

 test. The conditions in which it is not available are those of incom- 

 plete fracture, in which the mobility of the part is lacking, and those 

 in which the whole array of phenomena are usually obscure. To 

 obtain the benefit of this pathognomonic' sign requires deliberate, 

 careful, and gentle manipulation. Sometimes the slightest of move- 

 ments will be sufficient for its development, after much rougher 

 handling has failed to discover it. Perhaps the failure in the latter 

 case is due to a sort of defensive spasmodic rigidity caused by the 

 pain resulting from the rude interference. 



More or less reactive fever is a usual accompaniment of a fracture. 

 Ecchymosis in the parts is but a natural occurrence, and is more 

 easily discovered in animals possessing a light-colored and delicate 

 skin than in those of any other character. 



There are difficulties in the way of the diagnosis of an incomplete 

 fracture, even sometimes when there is a degree of impairment in the 

 function of locomotion, with evidences of pain and swelling at the 

 seat of lesion. There should then be a careful examination for evi- 

 dences .of a blow or other violence sufficient to account for the frac- 

 ture, though very often a suspicion of its existence can be converted 

 into a certainty only by a minute history of the patient if it can be 

 obtained up to the moment of the occurrence of the injury. A diag- 

 nosis ought not to be hastily pronounced, and where good ground 

 for suspicion exists it ought not to be rejected upon any evidence 

 less than the best. We too often read of serious and fatal complica- 

 tions following careless conclusions in similar cases, among which 

 we may refer to one instance of a complete fracture manifesting 

 itself in an animal during the act of rising in his stall after a decision 

 had been pronounced that he had no fracture at all. 



Fractures are of course liable to complications, especially those 

 which are of a traumatic character, such as extensive lacerations, 

 tearing of tissues, punctures, contusions, etc. Unless these are in com- 

 munication with the fracture itself the indication is to treat them 



