COMFOUND FRACTURE OF THE JAW. 
197 
slightest degree shifted ; and now an examination was made 
of the fracture itself. No crepitus at all existed, the ends 
being united by the primary soft material which still admitted 
of bending movement . The wound was dry and cicatrised, all 
but a small space that a fourpenny piece would cover. In 
re-applying the bandage, more space was allowed between the 
incisors, and from this time the horse was enabled to take 
bruised oats and bran, scalded together, and given to him 
rather sloppy, upon which he maintained his condition ex- 
ceedingly well. 
On the twenty-third day , noticing that the end of the 
underneath splint was causing a sore by its pressure, the 
bandage was again removed, as also this particular splint, 
which was not afterwards used. There was now little or no 
motion, and callus had formed at the union about the size, 
or rather more, of a large cedar pencil, marking the exactly 
transverse direction of the fracture. The original wound 
completely healed. The bandaging was re-applied as before, 
with only the two side splints. 
On the thirtieth day , the inner side splint was discontinued, 
and in its place the channel padded with tow. Not the 
slightest movement could be effected at the seat of fracture, 
and the callus itself had become more defined. The horse 
continued to keep up good appearance by taking plentifully 
of his cooked food, which from this time was occasionally 
alternated with feeds of dry bruised corn. During the 
seventh week all appliance was discontinued, the jaw pre- 
senting perfect uniformity, with only a very slight ridge of 
callus to be felt on the inner side. On now examining 
the mouth, the row of molars on the injured side was found 
to be uninterruptedly straight ; but all the teeth had become 
extremely angular and sharp. He could now eat his regular 
feeds perfectly ; but the muscles, from having been kept 
comparatively inactive, were not now equal to the force 
requisite for masticating hay, which was offered for the first 
time and ‘quidded;’ but of this weakness he each day im- 
proved, and in the course of a week or so could eat hay and 
everything else as well as ever. After leaving here, his owner 
afforded the horse a little longer rest in a loose box, and he 
has now returned to his harness, as good as before the 
accident. Believe me, &c. 
Mount St., Grosvenor Square. 
p.s. I should have mentioned, that, being detained on 
another case, the fracture occurring over night, was not done 
up in the manner described until the following morning, the 
first occasion of my personal attendance. 
xxvi. 27 
