Such a splint or support should extend from the fetlock region to the elbow, but the cotton and bandages are to reach to the foot.  When one considers that, with the supportive appliance placed on each side of the affected member, rigidity is accomplished as much from tensile strain put upon the leather as from its own stiffness, it is seen that the leather need not be of the heaviest—­sole leather is unnecessary.  Because of the more comfortable immobilizing appliance, the subject is less restive, and chances for a successful outcome are materially increased thereby.

In the mature subject, six or eight weeks’ time is required for union of the parts to occur sufficiently so that splints may be dispensed with.  Rearrangement of the supportive apparatus, however, is possible and usually necessary during the first few weeks of treatment.  By employing care in handling the parts, the subject will be unlikely to do itself injury at the time readjustment of splints is being effected.

In foals, it is best to give them the run of a box stall with the mother.  Being agile, they get up and lie at will without doing injury to the fractured member.  The splints (leather is preferable in these cases also) are looked after and readjusted as necessity demands.

Three or four weeks time is all that is required for the average young colt to be kept in splints when suffering from simple transverse fracture of the radius.

Compound fractures are necessarily more difficult to treat than are the simple variety, but even in such cases recovery results sometimes, and the practitioner is justified in attempting treatment after having explained the situation to his client.

Oblique fractures, even when simple, do not completely recover.  Muscular and tendinous contraction, together with the natural tendency for the beveled contacting parts of the broken bone to pass one another in oblique fracture, results in shortening of the leg and, if union results, a large callus usually forms.  Where shortening of bones occur, necessarily, permanent lameness follows.

Wounds of the Anterior Brachial Region.

Etiology and Occurrence.—­Contusions and lacerations of the forearm are of frequent occurrence in horses and are troublesome cases to handle; particularly is this noticeable where extensive laceration of the parts occurs.  These injuries are caused by animals being kicked; by striking the forearm against bars in jumping; and in sections of the country where barbed wire is used to enclose pastures, extensive lacerated wounds are met with when horses jump into such fences.

Symptomatology.—­Any wound which causes inflammation of the structures of the anterior half of the forearm, is characterized by swinging-leg-lameness.  Depending upon the nature and extent of the injury, manifestation varies.  In cases where laceration has practically divided all of the substance of the extensor tendons, it is, of course, impossible for the subject to advance the leg; but where lacerated wounds involve only a part of the extensor apparatus of the foreleg, not so much inconvenience is evident, unless the wound is seriously infected and inflammation involves contiguous structures.  Therefore, in many instances, lameness is more pronounced in contusions of the anterior brachial region than where tissues have been divided more or less keenly.