8 
The Bulletin 
Pathologic fractures are those from disease. Disease may also be¬ 
come predisposing causes of fractures from slight violence. 
Classification of Fractures 
Fractures may he classified as follows: 
First. Simple fractures. These are breaks in the continuity of the 
hone, and the skin is not broken. 
Second. Compound or open or complicated fractures. These are 
fractures where the break is accompanied by a break through the skin 
and soft parts, extending to the seat of the fracture. 
A fracture, whether simple or compound, may be spoken of as: 
First, according to their extent, as (a) complete, when the bone is 
broken across; (b) incomplete or greenstick, when partly broken or 
partly bent (often seen in quite young chicks) ; (c) comminuted, when 
broken into several pieces; and ( d ) multiple, when two or more distinct 
fractures occur in the same bone or in different bones. 
Second, according to the condition of the fragments, as (a) im¬ 
pacted, when one fragment is driven into another; ( b ) fissured, when 
extending through the bone without displacement, or (c) infraction 
depressed, when one fragment is pressed in below the surface, as in 
some fractures of the cranium; ( d ) punctured, when there is a small 
perforation with driving inwards of the fragments; and (c) splintered, 
when only a fragment of a hone is chipped off. 
Third, according to the line of fracture, as (a) transverse, ( b ) ob¬ 
lique, (c) spiral, ( d ) longitudinal, (e) Y- or T-shaped, and (/) stellate. 6 
All six of these fractures are recognized. 
A fracture is spoken of as “complicated” when associated with other 
injuries, such as dislocation of the same bone, rupture of the principal 
artery of the limb, injury of an adjoining viscus, as the brain or liver, 
or implication of the joints. 
Displacements of the fragments often occur. The cause of displace¬ 
ments may be as follows: The violence producing the fracture; care¬ 
less handling of the injured bird; injudicious movements on the part of 
the bird; the weight of the lower fragments; and muscular spasms acting 
on the upper fragments. The amount of these displacements will de¬ 
pend in part on the direction of the line of fracture, and, in part, 
whether or not the periosteum is torn. The displacement is spoken of 
as angular, lateral, longitudinal, or rotary. 
Symptoms of Fracture 
The general signs of fracture in the fowl are unnatural attitude of the 
wing or leg, inability to use either, alteration in the shape of the part, 
