348 THE MANAGEMENT AND DISEASES OF THE DOG. 



the coagulated blood, and make a thorough exposure of the 

 skull. I was provided with a trephine, thinking that only a 

 portion of the bone had been depressed on the brain, and it 

 would be necessary, with that instrument, to separate it from 

 its attachment, and then with an elevator remove it; but I 

 found that the greater part of the parietal bone was depressed, 

 and that the fracture extended along the sagittal suture from 

 the coronal and lambdoidal sutures. At three-fourths of the 

 width of the bone, the fracture ran parallel with the sagittal 

 suture and this large portion was depressed upon the tunics 

 of the brain, the dura mater being considerably lacerated. 



"The depressed bone was raised with an elevator, and I 

 found, from its lacerated edges, and the extent of the mischief 

 done, that it was far wiser to remove it entirely, than to allow 

 it to remain and take the chance of its uniting. 



" In a- few days the dog began to experience relief from the 

 operation, and to be somewhat conscious of what was taking 

 place around him. He still requires care and attention, and 

 proper medicinal agents to be administered from time to 

 time ; but with the exception of occasionally turning round 

 when on the floor, he takes his food well, and o^eys his mas- 

 ter's call." * 



Fracture of the Vertebra occasionally happens in dogs used 

 for the chase. It is needless to say that such cases usually 

 terminate in paralysis and death. 



The after-treatment of fracture is very simple. Quietude, 

 and attention to the bowels and diet, are the points mainly to 

 be observed. The bowels should be kept gently relaxed ; this 

 is especially needful in fracture of the hind extremities, and 

 particularly the pelvis, as the animal in placing himself in 

 position for faecaj evacuation is apt, in the strain and weight 

 almost necessarily thrown on the injured part, to displace the 

 fracture. The diet should be plain, unstimulating and relax- 

 ing. When an excessive amount of swelJipg takes place in 

 the foot after the settmg of a fractured limb, the bandages 

 * Trans. Vet. Med. Assoc, i. £1; 



