nts are
pressed together by the contraction of the muscles to which they give
insertion until they so overlap as to correspond by certain points of
their circumference, the reduction is to be accomplished by effecting
the movements of extension, counter extension, and coaptation. Extension
is accomplished by making traction upon the lower portion of the limb.
Counter extension consists in firmly holding or confining the upper or
body portion in such manner, that it shall not be affected by the
traction applied to the lower part. In other words, the operator,
grasping the limb below the fracture, draws it down or away from the
trunk, while he seeks not to draw away, but simply to hold the upper
portion still until the broken ends of bone are brought to their natural
relative positions, when the coaptation, which is thus effected, has
only to be made permanent by the proper dressings to perfect the
reduction.

In treating fractures in small animals the strength of the hand is
usually sufficient for the required manipulations. In the fracture of
the forearm of a dog, for example, while the upper segment is firmly
held by one hand the lower may be grasped by the other and the bone
itself made to serve the purpose of a lever to bring about the desired
coaptation. In such case that is sufficient to overcome the muscular
contraction and correct the overlapping or other malposition of the
bones. If, however, the resistance can not be overcome in this way, the
upper segment may be committed to an assistant for the management of
the counter extension, leaving to the operator the free use of both
hands for the further manipulation of the case.

If the reduction of fractures in small animals is an easy task, however,
it is far from being so when the patient is a large animal whose
muscular force is largely greater than that of several men combined. In
such case resort must be had not only to superior numbers for the
necessary force, but in many cases to mechanical aids. A reference to
the manner of proceeding in a case of fracture with displacement of the
forearm of a horse will illustrate the matter. The patient is first to
be carefully cast, on the uninjured side, with ropes or a broad, leather
strap about 18 feet long passed under and around his body and under the
axilla of the fractured limb and secured at a point opposite to the
animal and toward his back. This will form the mechanical means of
counter extension. Another rop