354 Surgical Diseases and Surgery of the Dog 



protective material. This is inserted crosswise between the jaws as 

 far back as possible. An assistant must then bear down on the 

 anterior extremity of the lower jaw, and endeavor to approximate 

 incisors to incisors. The operator at the same time exerts traction 

 on the stick in a forward and upward direction till the condyles are 

 raised to a point where they slip back into the articular fossae. No 

 solid food must be given for several days. 



The Vertebral Articulations. Reference has already been 

 made to this luxation in the chapter on Fractures. Complete luxa- 

 tion is rarely seen without being accompanied by fracture. It may 

 be recognized by the unnatural curvature of the neck, and the pres- 

 ence at the site of lesion of a depression on of^^side and an enlarge- 

 ment on the other. It is necessarily fatal. Partial luxation is occa- 

 sionally met with. 



Symptoms and Diagnosis. When it occurs in the cervical 

 vertebrae the neck is curved with the head turned towards the side 

 from which the displacement has occurred, and the animal prome- 

 nades in a circle with a staggering gait. On the concave side of the 

 neck there is a depression, and on the convex side an enlargement. 

 If the head is straightened out and let go again it immediately re- 

 turns to the abnormal position unless by chance the luxation should 

 become reduced by this procedure. If there is any pronounced 

 pressure on the cord convulsions occur, and they are generally more 

 manifest in the muscles on the opposite side of the body. 



Treatment. If after three or four days a gradual im- 

 provement is noticed in the distorted parts the prognosis may 

 be regarded as favorable, recovery taking place in the course 

 of a month, but should the animal become progressively weak and 

 emaciated, it should be destroyed. 



The Scapulo-Hmueral Articulation. The capsular ligament 

 enclosing this joint is remarkable for its looseness, where- 

 fore it possesses little power to oppose displacement. As a rule, 

 the head of the humerus is thrust to the anterior or external aspect 

 of the joint, internal or posterior luxation occurring when compli- 

 cated with fracture. Complete luxation is seldom seen, whereas the 

 partial form accompanied by little if any laceration of the ligament, 

 is not at all uncommon. It is brought about by extreme flexion of 

 the joint or traumatic influences. 



Symptoms and Diagnosis. Lameness appears suddenly, the 



