G58 
Fracture of the femur. 
this way, no fractures seem to have been reported in consequence. On 
the otliei hand, Moller considers that tying the limb to the forearm or 
fastening it to the ring of a surcingle is dangerous. Fracture is favoured 
by absolutely fixing the hind limb in a position of flexion, on account of 
the great strength of the extensor muscles of the quarter. The less the 
Resistance to their contraction, the less likely is fracture of the femur to 
occur. Lichte describes fracture of the femur in a horse affected with 
horizontal luxation of the patella. 
b racture of the neck of the femur, though occasionally seen, is much 
rarer m animals than in men, because in animals the neck is less well 
marked. Schrader reports a case ; the articular head had again become 
adherent to the femur opposite the lower trochanter. Kitt discovered 
post-mortem a fracture of the neck of the femur, and the formation of a 
false joint; the horse had nevertheless worked at a walking pace. Colin 
saw fracture of the neck and luxation of the femur in a horse. Fracture 
of the articular head itself is commoner; Dieterichs even saw a horse 
with double-sided fracture of the head of the femur. Fractures of the 
trochanters are rare, though Moller once saw the lower trochanter 
fractured by a fall on rough ground. Fractures of the lower articular 
piocesses, sometimes intra-capsular, are also infrequent, though they 
hcixe been lepoited. In dogs the shaft is oftenest broken, usually near 
the lower end. Comminuted fractures may occur. Greve found a 
horse’s femur broken into eighty-five pieces* In a race-horse the upper 
portion of the shaft of the femur was found to be broken into many 
pieces. Fissure of the femur in the horse has been produced by a kick ; 
post-mortem examination revealed a transverse fracture of the femur, 
and it would, therefore, appear that the condition was really “green 
stick ” fracture. Fiedlersaw a foal with separation of the upper epiphysis 
fiom the diaphysis and luxation of the femur. 
The symptoms of fracture, either of the shaft, head or neck of the 
femur, are generally well marked. Pain is severe, the animal goes 
lame both when placing weight on the limb and when advancing it, 
the limb itself is easily moved, especially in ail outward direction 
(abduction), and crepitation usually exists, though, if the fractured 
poition lie much displaced, crepitation may be wanting. As a rule, the 
slouching” movement of the entire limb may be remarked, even from 
a distance, and the only difficulty is to say whether the fracture is in 
the femur or in the tibia. 
The diagnosis of fracture of the upper end of the femur is sometimes 
difficult, because of the lower portion of the bone becoming inserted into 
the articular cup and thus supporting the weight of the body; in such 
cases, however, the limb is, as a rule, visibly shortened. 
Fracture of a trochanter is followed by swelling and marked lameness 
