166 PRINCIPLES OF VETEEINAKY SUEGEEY 



the broken ends, continuous mobility of the broken ends 

 (insufficient immobilization) . 



How do complicated fractures heal 9 



The seriousness of a complicated fracture lies in the 

 amount of splintering of the bone, and especially the age and 

 amount of injury to the skin and neighboring soft parts. 

 Complicated fractures where the skin wound can be asep- 

 ticised heal almost as rapidly as a subcutaneous — that is, 

 aseptic — fracture. 



In the complicated fracture the callus formation is the 

 same as in the subcutaneous fracture, but is greatly inter- ' 

 f ered with as the result of those conditions which are sequels 

 of an infection, namely : purulent cellulitis, retention of pus, 

 lymphangitis, necrosis of the soft parts and bones, purulent 

 periostitis and myelitis, formation of fistulse and general 

 sepsis, as septicsemia and pyaemia. ', 



How would you testify in Court in a case of this sort ? 



A horse was sold by A to B and warranted by A as 

 sound and true in all harness. In the morning after the pur- 

 chase the horse is down and unable to get up. You are 

 called and diagnose complete fracture of the tibia and order 

 the horse killed. Post-mortem examination reveals a soft 

 external spongy callus at the line of fracture. Your certifi- 

 cate therefore will state that the animal was unsound at the 

 time of purchase suffering with a fissured fracture of about 

 two weeks' standing. Had the fracture occurred during the 

 night at the new owner's stable, there would be no osteoid 

 tissue present, that is, no callus, but simply an effusion of 

 blood and symptoms of a fresh aseptic inflLammation. 



How do you treat simple fracture ? 



1. By reducing the fracture. This means that the sur- 



