2.—Compound fracture, a flesh wound commencing with the broken ends of the bone. 3.—Complicated fracture, injuries to soft parts, blood vessels, nerves, or internal organs. 4.—Comminuted fracture, smashing of bones into pieces. They vary very much in extent and form. Some are very simple indeed, and there is but little perceptible looseness of the ends of the fractured part or sign of fracture. A case of this kind might easily be mistaken for a mere contusion, which has often been done. Bones are often broken obliquely, and with sharp points, and require skilful treatment both in reduction and the application of splints. Compound fractures, of course, require care and skill, but many fractures are so easy to understand and rectify, that all is required is a little common sense treatment. The SYMPTOMS of fracture are:—1. Alterations in shape and general appearance (plate V., fig. 88., pp. xix).—2. Unusual mobility at seat of fracture.—3. Crepitus or crackling in placing hand over the broken part and creating motion with the other.—4. Shortening of limb.—5. Some inequality felt on moving the fingers along the surface of the injured bone. These have to be distinguished from dislocations, and in doing so, the following facts must be remembered:— _Fractures._ _Dislocations._ Crepitus. No crepitus. Unnaturally movable. More or less fixed. Easily replaced. Replaced with difficulty. Limb often shortened. Limb may be shortened Seat of injury in the shaft or lengthened. or body of the bone. Seat of injury at a joint. DISLOCATIONS are partial or complete. Partial dislocations are most common and most difficult to understand, as the ordinary signs are not so clear as in complete dislocations, and may be overlooked or misunderstood, but as Mr. Jackson has before pointed out to the experienced Bone-setter, symptoms, which cannot be described appear; and motions, or want of motions equally unexplainable, are felt, so that he has very little difficulty in determining the nature of the injury. Partial dislocations, displacements of tendons, and other injuries of a similar character, may sometimes be rectified a considerable time after the injury has been sustained, but should be attended to within a short time after the accident—at least, within a few days. Much, however, depends upon the nature of the injury, that no definite time can be given which the patient may take before seeking proper advice. Many of the cases so graphically described in “Chambers’ Journal” and Dr. Hood’s book were evidently not complete dislocations, but partial dislocations of joints or displaced ligaments, etc., which admitted of being rectified by dexterous manipulation.