FEAOTUEES. 



251 



not suffice to invest it with immunity in regard to fractures. It 

 contributes its share to the list of accidents of this description, 

 sometimes in consequence of external violence and sometimes as 

 the result of muscular contraction ; sometimes it takes place at 

 the upper extremity of theboue; sometimes at the lower; some- 

 tunes at the head, when the condyles become implicated; but it is 

 principally found in the body or diaphysis. The fracture may be 

 of any of the ordinary forms, simple or compound, complete or in- 

 complete, transverse or obhque, etc. A case of the comminuted 

 variety is recorded in which eighty-five fragments of bone were 

 counted and removed. 



The thickness of the muscular covering sometimes renders the 

 diagnosis difficult by interfering with the manipulation, but the 

 crepitation test is readily available even when the sweUing is con- 

 siderable and which is likely to be the case as the result of the in- 



FlG. 375.— Fracture of tlie Femur. 



Fig. 276.— Fracture, witli Shortening. 



