The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-09-08
THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
Treatment of Fractures.

As rule, if one the bones of the leg of a
domestic animal is fractured. the cheapest
way is to kill the animal at once. If fit for
food it may be used; if not, it should be
skinned and buried.
There are cases, where the animal is Of
great value as breeder or as getter of
stock, when it is of sufficient value to at
ture, only one of the bones being broken, the
cure is not difficult, it being simply question
of time and of keeping the limb in such po-
sitiOn that it may receive no injury.
Distortion of the limb, or in bad cases when
it is pendulous, will sufficiently indicate the
serious nature of the fracture, and in such
cases, unless the animal is extremely valua-
BILE, it is best to put it out of pain. In less
serious cases, it may require some examina-
ton with the fingers to detect the point of
fracture, unless the practitioner be compe-
tent veterinary surgeon.
1t will, in any event, be absolutely neces-
sary, in the treatment even of simple frac-
lures, to erect a set of slings by which the an
imal may be suspended, so that the injured
limb may not be stepped upon, for neither
wild or domestic animals have the Intelligence
to apprehend the danger that would arise
from putting the injured limb to the ground,
as would be the case in the human patient.
The slings being at hand, ordinary frac-
lures may be secured, after being carefully
set, by means of starch bandages, or with the
use Of dry bandage and splints OF wood, leath-
er or gutta percha.
In the case of fracture of bone envel-
oped in large muscles, as the thigh, where it
is not feasible to use starch bandaoes or
splints, mixture of Burgundy pitch and
resin may be literally applied with a thick
brush, and short wool or hair pressed there
on. When cool, apply another coating, and
so proceed until this lime is rendered perfect
ly stiff and rigid. This will remain for weeks
and will assurably prevent the animal from
seriously iDjuring the limb.
If, however, the limb be wollen before the
fracture be discovered, the reduction Of the
tune faction must be attended to, since the
subsidence of the swelling would leave tine
bandages, of whatever Kind they may be,
limp and useless, and this cannot be met by
extra pressure upon the parts, since this
would only add to the mischief. The difficult
ty must first be obviated by the use of padded
splints, retained in position by soft bandages
applied with just sufficient firmness to pre-
vent injurious movement of the part. Cold
lotions should be persistently applied to Ie-
duce the swelling, assisted by cooling medi-
cines. As soon as the part has regained its
normal proportions, the first dressing should
be removed and bandage, saturated with
strong starch, applied in its place. Care must
be taken in conducting this operation, that
the bones be not displaced.
This is not intended to enable our readers
knowing little or nothing of the anatomy OF
animals, to cope successfully with fractures.
The hints here given may enable the owner
of valuable animal to care for it until COM
petent veterinary assistance can arrive and
thereafter conduct the case, under advice, to a
successful issue.-Western RurGl.