REPORTS OF CASES. 
193 
FRACTURE OF THE MAXIEEA IN A DOG.—METHODS OF 
SPLINTING. 
By Francis Arele, V. S., Quincy, Mass. 
A boy was “ knocking flies ” with a bat and ball. A grey¬ 
hound tried to catch the ball on the toss np. He got it, but at 
the same moment caught the force of the bat on his inferior 
maxilla. There was a compound transverse fracture with dis¬ 
placement of one ramus. Some hsemorrhage from the mouth. 
There was inability to bring the jaws into apposition. Traction 
set the ends in place and at once the dog could move his jaws, 
applied gutta-percha between the rami on inferior surface of 
jaw. Under this was a wedge shaped piece of belt leather con¬ 
forming to inferior outline of the jaw, and fitting up to the 
neck. Punched holes to carry tape, at ends to go over neck ; 
half way, to go over muzzle, in front of eyes ; and just back of 
canines to go over teeth. Made a strap leather muzzle to go 
over all. Fed egg and milk with a syringe. Five days later he 
could open his mouth and lap when muzzle was off. Union 
had commenced, as evinced by his tr3’ing to rub his jaw on the 
ground, showing the itching feeling. On the tenth da}^ he 
could eat soups, wanted to yawn whenever muzzle was taken 
off. Removed splints and kept on only muzzle. There is a 
clean smooth union of the ends. 
A pup six weeks old had displaced fracture of tibia at union 
of shaft by epiphysis. Bandaged with two small skivings of 
leather for splints, with silicate of soda. In one week bandage 
loosened and came off. Pup could use the leg. Put on another, 
however, but I wanted to show the rapidity of union in so young 
an animal. 
[Note. —The above interesting report of fracture of the inferior 
maxilla reminds me that some years ago a valuable collie was brought 
to me with the identical history^ as given Dr. Abele. The difference 
was that the fracture in this case was longitudinal, extending from the 
genial surface to between the incisor teeth and rendered compound bj^ 
the mucous membrane being lacerated from movements of the fractured 
bone. A neighboring dentist made a rubber cast of the buccal surface 
and a gutta-percha sling was fitted to the external side, which retained 
the fractured parts in apposition until union occurred. My experience 
in this case leads me to the conclusion that only the great intelligence 
and obedience to his master of this animal rendered a favorable termina¬ 
tion possible. Few dogs would permit such a method.—R. R. B.] 
The May issue of the Joiii'ual of Comparative Medicine was 
devoted largely to affairs veterinary in New York State, page 
after page being devoted to pleasant personalities. 
