ischium on the floor of the bone, or at its posterior external angle.
Or, again, the fracture may involve all three of these constituent parts
of the hip bone by having its situation in the articular cavity--the
acetabulum by which it joins the femur or thigh bone.

_Symptoms._--Some of these fractures are easily recognized, while others
are difficult to identify. The ordinary deformity which characterizes a
fracture of the external angle of the ilium, its dropping and the
diminution of that side of the hip in width, unite in indicating the
existence of the condition expressed by the term "hipped." An incomplete
fracture, however, or one that is complete without displacement, or even
one with displacement, often demands the closest scrutiny for its
discovery. The lameness may be well marked, and an animal may show it
but little while walking, though upon being urged into a trot will
manifest it more and more, until presently it will cease to use the
crippled limb altogether, and travel entirely on three legs. The acute
character of the lameness will vary in degree as the seat of the lesion
approximates the acetabulum. In walking, the motion at the hip is very
limited, and the leg is dragged; while at rest it is relieved from
bearing its share in sustaining the body. An intelligent opinion and
correct conclusion will depend largely upon a knowledge of the history
of the case, and while in some instances that will be but a report of
the common etiology of fractures, such as blows, hurts, and other
external violence, the simple fact of a fall may furnish in a single
word a satisfactory solution of the whole matter.

With the exception of the deformity of the ilium in a fracture of its
external angle, and unless there has been a serious laceration of
tissues and infiltration of blood, or excessive displacement, there are
no very definite external symptoms in a case of a fracture of the hip
bone. There is one, however, which, in a majority of cases, will not
fail--it is crepitation. This evidence is attainable by both external
and internal examination--by manipulation of the gluteal surface and by
rectal taxis. Very often a lateral motion, or balancing of the hinder
parts by pressing the body from one side to the other, will be
sufficient to render the crepitation more distinct--a slight sensation
of grating, which may be perceived even through the thick coating of
muscle which covers the bone--and the sensation may not on