294 PRINCIPLES OF VETERINARY SCIENCE 



chipped or fractured the animal is said to be "hipped." It does 

 not often cause lameness or diminish usefulness. 



Symptoms. — The first symptom of fracture is the inability to 

 support weight, which causes the animal to go on three legs. 

 Usually pain is evinced, although fractures of the pelvic and some 

 other bones may be almost painless. When the fractured ends 

 of the bone are displaced a swelling results. Other symptoms 

 are abnormal mobility, or the appearance of an extra joint, and 

 crepitation, or the characteristic grating sound caused by the 

 rubbing together of the broken pieces of bone. Severe fractures 

 greatly derange the general condition of the animal. 



Treatment. — The treatment of a fracture is much more difficult 

 in animals than in the human patient for they fight restraint. 

 The fracture must first be reduced; that is, the ends of the broken 

 bone replaced in the normal position. These ends must then be 

 retained in position until "knitting" has been completed. lb 

 may be necessary to exert traction to get the ends in apposition. 



Various schemes have been devised to hold the fractured bone 

 in position. Metal or wood splints are most commonly employed. 

 These are held by plaster-of-paris bandages, which harden on 

 exposure to the air into a firm cast. If no skin wound is present, 

 a thin layer of cotton batting, held in place by a woolen bandage, 

 is applied under the cast. Care should be used not to get the 

 bandage too tight as the circulation would be interfered with. 



Slings are used to keep the patient in the standing position. 

 A narrow stall is best, as it affords opportunity for support from 

 leaning against the sides. Laxative, nutritious foods must be 

 supplied with plenty of green fodder and mineral substances to 

 aid nature in repairing the bone. Horses must be kept at least 

 seven weeks in the slings, and should not be put to work for three 

 months. 



Complications of various kinds may follow fractures. Prob- 

 ably septicemia is the most common in cases where a compound 

 fracture exists. Founder and tetanus are others. When the 

 ends are not kept in contact during the healing process, one leg 

 becomes shorter than the other and a permanent lameness results, 

 or a "false joint" forms (Fig. 75). 



The "knitting" of a fractured bone differs little from the heal- 

 ing of wounds of the skin. A jelly-like substance is poured out 

 from the injured ends. By the action of certain cells this sub- 



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