DISEASES OF BONES 177 



6. Fracture of tlie pelvic bones. Tiie most common 

 cause consists in being run over, also kicks, falls, etc. The 

 staft of the ilium, its external angle and region of the coty- 

 loid cavity are quite frequent, while of course the other pelvic 

 bones are also, but less commonly, found fractured. There 

 may be paralysis as well as the other symptoms peculiar to 

 fractures. Prognosis is doubtful or unfavorable. 



8. Fracture of the femur. This fracture heals less kindly, 

 it being difficult to immobilize the parts, requiring at least 

 four weeks. Most fractures occur at the lower third, next 

 comes the upper third and finally the middle third of the 

 bone. 



9. Fracture of the tibia and fibula. This one has a more 

 favorable prognosis than that of the femur. The part in- 

 volved is usually the lower third of the bone. 



10. Fracture of the tarsus, metacarpus and phalanges. 

 The metatarsus usually breaks in the upper and middle third; 

 the tarsus is less often fractured, while the phalanges exhibit 

 mostly a complicated fracture. In these, the same rules hold 

 good as in the corresponding bones of the forelegs. 



11. Fracture of the inferior maxilla. This one, as well as 

 fractures of the bones of the head, is quite rare. The frac- 

 tures of the inferior maxillary bones more commonly are 

 found at the union of the inferior extremity of the branches 

 (prognosis favorable); further, in the region of the canine 

 tooth. Transverse fractures of this locality are often difficult 

 to treat and may require excision of the bony fragment. 



12. Fracture of the vertebral column. These are, on the 

 whole, seldom encountered excepting those of the coccygeal 

 vertebrae, the treatment of which consists in amputation of 

 that part of the tail. Being almost invariably the result of 

 being run over, or getting pinched in between a door, the 



