Diseases of cattle, sheep, goats and swine

by G. Moussu; Jno. A. W. Dollar

Were one certain of the cleanliness of the wound and of its perfectly aseptic condition, it would be better at once to have recourse to a fixed bandage, strengthened by plaster or silicate of soda.

These bandages are applied longitudinally and should extend a considerable distance on either side of the fractures. If the horn is long and thick, it is best to use a fixed dressing of this kind secured by bandages in the form of a Maltese cross.

All these methods, however, are more or less inconvenient, and the most practical procedure often consists in removing the horn. Treatment should only be attempted when the owner specially requests it in order to render the animal useful for working or show purposes.

Moreover, however strong the dressing, accidents are frequent, for accidental shocks to the fractured horn interfere with the co-aptation of parts, and diminish the chance of perfect union. To avoid these drawbacks, the apparatus shown in Fig. 11 has been invented.

This apparatus consists of a splint, the middle of which fits the back of the animal’s poll, the sides being gouged out to receive the lower half of the horn and notched, to enable the fractured horn to be well supported by bandages.

Fig. 12.—Dressing for fracture of the base of the horn.

(4.) Fractures of the base of the horn are more serious, because a fragment of the frontal bone is usually torn away with the horn core. As a rule, the fracture is subcutaneous or without external wound. The horn is displaced, and swings loosely. On examination, a characteristic crepitation sound is easily detected. In such fractures hæmorrhage is subcutaneous and often extends to the frontal sinus, in consequence of which it is not uncommon for pus to form in the sinus as a complication.

Treatment includes reduction of the fracture, and the application of a fixed plaster or silicate bandage covering the fronto-occipital and superior auricular regions.

When a skin wound exists, it is better to remove the horn and bony fragment, and to apply an antiseptic dressing in order to prevent infection of the frontal sinus.