THE VETERINARIAN.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1266, 4 June 1896, Page 5

THE VETERINARIAN.

TREATMENT OF FRACTURES, Broken bones in cattle or horses are generally believed to be incurable, or not worth treatment, and among nonscicntifie hoisc-owners it U supposed that a broken bone will not unite, that eqnine naturo is different from all others, and I hat a fracture will not in reality undergo these physiological prccefcses which in other animals lead to repair. Cases coming under our own observation lead us to oiler a few remarks on the subject of fractures in the animals of the farm, under which description most of the domestic animals are included; but we would rather say animals on the farm, and not the roadster, the winner, or the horse doing town work of any kind, as the whole conditions are altered, and the fracture that the town practitioner may consider quite hopeless, ami recommend immediate slaughter, may on the farm, and under other conditions, bo worth treatment and result in success. ft is with the impression on our mind that a great many animals are slaughtered unnecessarily that we again bring before our readers a subject mj old, yet of ever-recurring interest, as there will always be fractures, and the more discriminating owners will make the least sacrifices, and incur only the minimum of loss.

Twice in one day have heifers with broken limbs come under our observation, and would have been slaughtered, producing but a nominal sum from the butcher, who rarely makes the mistake of over-estimating the value of an animal the owner of which is compelled to sell. indeed, this attitude of the butcher or buyer is one, of the reasons, in our opinion, why treatment of fractures should be more often attempted in the case of farm stock. Without entering into the technicalities of the different fractures, or using the language of the schools, we. may point to a few situations and to some kinds of fracture which may be worth treatment. As previously stated, the conditions under which animals live are so widely different that a case one man might keep and treat successfully would entail a heavy loss upon another. The sta'dod town horse, for instance, whose owner has no special facilities for cheap keep, will better end his loss by calling in the knacker, and make room in his stable for a successor. But on the farm Ihe grass consumed will not be missed, and should the animal eventually recover it will seem to the owner all gain. The horse, while having the greatest value, is the worst subject for treatment, and for several reasons. Hois not a good patient ; he does not remain in a recumbent attitude for long to gether, as does the ruminating animal ,

he does not get up and down on three legs as well as a bullock, sheep, or pig; and if the fracture 'no on a hind extremity tin; wasting of the abdomen is so great, that he becomes a wreck.

Again, wo are not satisfied, like

hum.in surgeons, to see our patient out again with the: assistance of crutches, or a walking-stick, nor can we congratulate him on being but little lame. It is necessary that lie should be as sound .'.-, he was before the aeci lent. and as capable of laboui ; and here we lave a difficulty that does not apply to i lli) ox, p'g, sheep, or even dog, since ; the Litter can d i a go si d \ii of work IVl'tll ll'l'i e |rg.!. 1 ii all eav .; of IVael ore, or of dis location, the services of a veterinary surgeon should bo obtained if pos; ible, but in some pi ice s such services are unattainable, an i l'er; are eases where the auim d is no 1 of : uliicient value to i' quis'.li' u ■'. pi oh : •: mul man from a di.i'ancoof s mi <■ i •;!■ s. It is sir pi ising in these days of technical education, of lectures provided by county councils, illustrated by anatomical plates, etc., how very few of the farming class recognise the bones of animals, or have the least idea of their position, Such lamentable ignorance is now inexcusable. Many farmers who put in appearance! at the lectures were disappointed to find they were not to be made into veterinary surgeons by a short and eisy process, or put into possession of some valuable recipes that would enable them in future to dispense with the services of the regular practitioner, Questioned afterwards as to their bleeding cows from the tail, it has been found quite a general belief that the spinal cord extends throughout its length. in offering advice to readers, it is assumed that they have a general idea of the outlines of anatomy,

the principal bones, which will enable them to judge of what bone is broken, and to discriminate between a fracture and a dislocation. It may be taken as a broad nile that in fracture there will be elongation of the limb, and in dislocation shortening of it, while the deformity resulting will depend greatly upon the seat ot injury,

A fractured bone that is well covered with muscle, and having the broken ends in apposition, is a hopeful one. Many simple fractures of the humerus or arm bone, and of others of the " long round " class, will unite well enough in the case of animals other than the horse, or in such as are not destined for labour. It will not be worth while to treat a fat or forward in flesh bullock for such an accident, but a youngster, or poor "store," of no value to slaughter, will often make

a fair beast if given time. Bones such as the humerus, femur, etc, are not in a position to be benefited by splints or surgical appliances, but the old-fash-ioned plan of applying either a blister or charge is not without ils advantages. Taking the case of a shoulder (humerus), for instance, the swelling caused by a blister produces for a time the equivalent of a pad between the skin and the seat of fracture, and the additional soreness induces the patient the more quickly to take care of it. Herein individuals diller greatly. One will from the first exercise the greatest care in getting up and down, while another will be a'ways getting into trouble, and causing fresh injury to retard the process of reunion. We have said that many bones will unite " well enough," by which it should be understood that they will be ro-tored sufficiently to enable the bullock or pig to feed and be fatted for the butcher, or the cow or ewe, the sow or favourite bitch, to be retained for breeding, although some deformity remains which is not fatal to the animal's welfare.

If a long bo ie is broken into a joint, that is to say, in the direction of its length, and not transversely, it may not be worth treatment, as much fever ami possible suppuration of the joint may follow; nor will it be worth while as a rule to treat a fracture with wound, where the bone is either shattered into a number of fragments or is protruding through the skin. There are breakages below the knee and hock, especially among young sleek, that are very hopeful if promptly taken in hand and the injured limb put into such splints as can lie obtained. Nearly every amateur can be relied on lo select splints sullieiently strong and to make them secure enough, though he have nothing but a hedge row or the bark of a tree from which to choose his appliances ; but the fault he commonly commits, and which the trained surgeon avoids, is putting on anything that will cause damage when the inevitable swelling follows. Il is not sufficient that the broken ends of a bone be brought into apposition and the limb supported in its proper position, but the parts should first receive a padding of some compressible material that will minimise the risk of sore, and do away with the necessity of removing the splint to soon. If the hedge surgeon--and we may call him this without giving offence, as we should to an unqualified practitioner of the law—his not better material to choose, Ik; may find a coat lining or . p ire a slu :kiug wish which lo build a foundation lor his splints. When we h ere bovs, and in the days of muzzleloaders, v," found (he' insides of hats .■•ie! cape', and coals provide many a wad in e.is".) of emergency, and we. have

resorted to loaves for tin-same purpose, aim as a surgical aid in lb': tropics since— Lou-ion FbU,