FRACTURES OF THE BONES. 293 



line of the fractured bones. This may also be of especial diag- 

 nostic importance in case of cracks or fissures of the bone. In 

 such a case, while the symptoms ate all present, the ends of the 

 bones are not displaced. This is generally seen in the longitudinal 

 form and in very young animals where the bone pivots on the 

 fractured epiphysis. Crepitation and an abnormal movement are 

 easily recognized by taking hold of the part above and below the 

 fracture and moving it in different directions. Both of these symp- 

 toms are absent in incomplete fractures and in such fractures where 

 the bones will close together with very little displacement. This is 

 f specially seen in longitudinal fractures of the short compact bones. 

 We occasionally find a mild, rubbing bruit or sound produced 

 by dry blood-extravasations or fibrinous coagulations between the 

 surfaces of joints. In cases of fracture where the periosteum 

 has not been torn, we will have a certain amount of swelling in 

 the fractured region, pain on pressure, loss of appetite, and a 

 certain amount of fever. This last symptom, however, is rarely 

 noticed. 



Where there is an external wound which becomes rapidly closed 

 by the blood and the purulent agents cannot penetrate between the 

 fractured ends of the bone, we have a form of fracture that is not 

 so difficult to treat; but if any septic materials should have pene- 

 trated into the wound and found their way between the ends of 

 the bones, the condition is generally indicated in the following 

 manner : There is a marked inflammatory swelling in the neigh- 

 borhood of the wound. At first the discharge from the wound is 

 blood-colored, then rapidly becomes pus-like, and finally purulent 

 in character. If the discharge becomes obstructed in any way, we 

 quickly notice a purulent, oedematous swelling all around the part, 

 which is always a very grave symptom. If the course is favor- 

 able, the injured part becomes rapidly filled with red, granulating 

 tissue, which finally dries, becomes hard, and forms a scab. By 

 means of strict antiseptic treatment this is possible, and we can 

 reduce the danger and time of an open fracture by strictly follow- 

 ing the usual antiseptic forms of treatment. In the dog, however, 

 this is always rather difficult to accomplish, as the animals are 

 hard to confine, moving about constantly and pulling or tearing 

 the bandages. 



The Phenomena of Union in Fractures. The healing and 



