312 FEACTURES. 



Shoulder Blade. 



These fractures usually occur on the spine of the shoulder blade, 

 which is the ridge that stands out at right angles to the external 

 surface of the bone; or at the neck, which is the narrow and 

 rounded part just above the joint. The former accident is not 

 very serious. If a splinter is chipped off the spine, it will have to 

 be removed. If the neck of this bone is broken, the presence of 

 fracture may be perceived on looking at the part just above the 

 " point of the shoulder " (the shoulder joint), when the horse is 

 standing ; and the symptoms, more or less marked, of " dropped 

 elbow" (p. 311) will be present. By laying the flat of the hand 

 on the shoulder, crepitus will be felt, when the leg is brought 

 forwards and backwards; A fracture of the neck, or body, of the 

 shoulder blade, without displacement, will simply require a long 

 rest in slings. If the ends are displaced, an attempt should be 

 made to " set '' them, by drawing the limb forward, and, by means 

 of the fist, pressing back into its position the part of the bone 

 that bulges out. 



Tail. 



The bones of the tail are, sometimes, broken by falls. We 

 should endeavour to " set " them, support the part by padding, 

 and apply, over the tail, a leather sheath, laced up moderately 

 tight. 



Thigh.— See " Femur," page 299. 



Tibia. 



This bone (Fig. 115) is, on its inner surface, so unprotected, that 

 it is not uncommonly fractured by kicks and other injuries. Its 

 covering membrane is, however, so thick, that when this accident 

 occurs, there is often no displacement; hence, horse owners should 

 make it a rigid rule, that if one of their animals gets kicked on the 

 inside of a hind leg, just above the hook, he should not be worked 

 until all fear of a fracture is removed. A thickening of the bone 

 over the seat of injury will indicate, after a few days, the existence 

 of reparative action. The person treating the case should on no 

 account, when making his examination, work the parts about, lest 

 he may cause displacement. The animal should be put into slings, 

 or "tied up," so that he may not lie down; for if fracture without 



