246 THE DISEASES OP THE DOG. 



However, we may advantageously note seriatim some 

 of the principal fractures of the dog and examine their 

 special features. 



The skull is small, rather deficient in processes, and the 

 two halves of the lower jaw are movable on one another. 

 These facts render fractures of it infrequent. When the 

 walls of the cranium give way after falls or blows, com- 

 pression and concussion of the brain have to be considered 

 and dealt with, and depressed portions of bone removed by 

 trephining and elevation, and the further progress of the 

 case is apt to be complicated by meningitis. There are 

 two points strongly in our favour in treatment of dog 

 fractures, that there is seldom much constitutional irritation 

 and the reparative powers are very rapid. These must be 

 considered in prognosis. The lower jaw may be fractured 

 by blows, as a kick from a horse, or may simply be 

 dislocated at the symphysis. Such cases generally recover 

 spontaneously, although loose teeth or fragments of bone 

 may need removal by operation. The vertebrae may be 

 fractured when an animal is crushed by a door slamming 

 to or by a carriage wheel passing over him; dislocations 

 and incurable paralysis is liable to result. Fractured ribs 

 may be associated with fatal pleurisy or lung perforation ; 

 generally these bones act mutually as splints ; they are very 

 elastic in the dog on account of the length of their carti- 

 lages, an anatomical peculiarity which protects them to an 

 extent from being broken. When that accident occurs a 

 bandage may be put tightly round the chest to limit the 

 respiratory movement of the ribs and the animal kept quiet. 

 Fractured pelvis acquires special importance as liable to 

 cause impediment to parturition when it occurs in bitches. 

 It may prove so much so as to necessitate delivery by 

 Caesarean section. The scapula generally gives way in 

 the region of its neck, although fracture of its blade is not 

 infrequent from kicks and blows. The mobility of the 

 part is limited by a pitch plaster, perhaps strengthened 

 with splints of pasteboard or wood, and the shoulder 

 retained against the side by some such device as a starch 

 bandage embracing the neck and forearm like a figure-of- 



