-stick fracture was
produced, accompanied by the projection of a tender salient angle
externally; in others complete solution of continuity was effected.

Another feature of importance was the occasional implication of several
ribs. In this case the symptoms accompanying the injury were very much
more like those observed in the corresponding injuries resulting from
indirect violence seen in civil practice.

Injuries to the _costal cartilages_ closely resembled those to the ribs.
Perforation, bending from injury to the inner aspect, and comminution
were observed. The latter condition differed from the similar one seen
in the case of the ribs only in so far as the tougher consistence of the
cartilage did not lend itself to such free comminution, and the
splinters remained in great part attached. The nature of the fractures,
in fact, somewhat resembled that seen on breaking a piece of cane.

I saw no fracture of the _sternum_ except of the nature of a pure
perforation; these were not uncommon in the hospitals, either in the
upper or the extreme lower portions of the bone. Fractures in other
portions were no doubt usually associated with fatal injuries to the
heart. The openings were usually so small as to be difficult of
palpation, and I never had the opportunity of examining one _post
mortem_.

Perforations of the body of the _scapula_ were common, but they were of
little importance in symptoms or prognosis.

_Symptoms of fracture of the ribs._--Fractures accompanying transverse
wounds of the chest were characterised by the insignificance of the
symptoms produced. Every common sign of fracture of the rib was in fact
absent. Neither pain, stitch on inspiration, nor crepitus, either
audible or palpable, was, as a rule, present. This absence of signs was
accounted for by the nature of the lesion: thus in perforations or
notchings there was no loss of continuity, while in the freely
comminuted fractures the loss of continuity was so absolute as to allow
no possibility of the main fragments rubbing together. Again, part of
the symptoms attending these injuries, as seen in civil practice,
depends upon contusion and laceration of the surrounding structures--a
condition precluded by the localised nature of the application of the
violence by a bullet of small calibre. In order to establish a
diagnosis, therefore, we were in many cases reduced to palpation, and
occasionally to direct examination of the wound.

Fractures acco