FRACTURES OF THE HUMERUS. 
503 
noted. Warnecke saw fracture of the humerus in a stallion, and Mere¬ 
dith compound longitudinal fracture in a horse, reunite in ten weeks. 
Numerous fragments of bone were removed and an antiseptic dressing 
applied. Numbers of similar cases have been reported. Vogt relates a 
case where in a cow the broken shaft of the humerus united. A serious 
point for consideration is whether the marked shortening of the limb, 
which always occurs (even after union) when there has originally been 
much dislocation, may not make the horse or ox useless. Prognosis is 
more hopeful i-n small animals, especially when the fragments are not 
much displaced. Not only is reduction easier, but in carnivora the 
humerus may be supported with bandages, particularly if the fracture 
is near the lower end. 
Treatment. In horses and cattle suitable bandaging can scarcety be 
effected, and recovery must, therefore, be left to nature. The complicated 
dressings recommended in France do not seem to assist much in retaining 
the fragments in position. In carnivora, on the other hand, the lower 
portion of the humerus may be bandaged, and in them it is also possible 
to completely fix the broken condyle. A plaster bandage is applied 
extending from the metacarpus as high as possible, and care taken that 
the elbow-joint is moderately flexed, so as to avoid a bad position after¬ 
wards. The lower part of the limb should neither be fixed in a position 
of excessive supination nor of pronation. In three to four weeks the 
animals commence to place weight on the foot, and the bandage may then 
be removed. At first the elbow-joint cannot be freely moved, but the 
amplitude of movement gradually increases, especially if passive exercise 
be given. In one case Frick attempted to fix the displaced condyle in 
position with bone sutures, but the bone proved too friable and the 
sutures tore out. Such operations, however, are perfectly practicable 
provided careful antisepsis be observed; the fragment may be fixed in 
position with wire sutures, or, as in human practice, with ordinary wood 
screws which have been silvered. 
Large animals, and notably horses, require slinging. After prolonged 
slinging, however, the animal may show signs of acute laminitis in the 
foot on which it stands. Despite the risk of displacement, there is then 
no other course open but to allow the animal to lie down, trusting that 
union may be sufficiently far advanced to prevent bad consequences. 
The bed must be soft and the box roomy. If the animal refuses to lie 
down, there is little hope of recovery. 
III.—DISEASES OF THE SHOULDER-JOINT. 
Anatomy. The shoulder-joint, which in all domesticated animals is an 
enarthrodial or ball-and-socket joint, possesses a lax capsular ligament. The 
lateral reinforcement of the capsule by strong connective tissue and the 
application of muscular substance on both sides limit movement in the joint, 
