Fracture in this region is comparatively rare, and serious in proportion as the bone is depressed and the brain subjected to compression and traumatic injury.

Those bones forming the front of the cranium (the parietal) are most frequently broken, but fracture of those at the base of the cavity (occipital and sphenoid) is most uniformly fatal in its results.

The causes which produce the former are mainly concussion, especially when the front of the head is brought into forcible contact with sharp objects. The latter is invariably the result of striking the poll against hard ground, or a wall, or other such resisting surface, when the horse in rearing loses his balance and falls backwards.

In these cases unconsciousness and paralysis immediately follow the accident, and death results from concussion and haemorrhage into and under the base of the brain.

The writer once saw in the practice of the late Mr. Gowing the base of the cranium of a horse, which had at some time been fractured, but recovered sufficiently to allow of the animal resuming work, and to be afterwards sold without any evidence of the injury being detected. He was, however, the subject of repeated attacks of brain disturbance, which ultimately led to his destruction, and post-mortem examination of the head revealed decided indications of an old fracture involving the two bones referred to above - sphenoid and occipital.

Fracture of the parietal bone occurs with or without depression, and it is frequently difficult in presence of swelling to determine to what extent, if at all, the bone has been driven inwards. If, however, consciousness remains undisturbed, and there is no defect in locomotion, it may be inferred for the present that the brain is but little interfered with. But it should not be too hastily concluded that no cerebral disturbance will supervene later on. For several days after such an accident the liability to brain trouble will continue.

Where the bone is simply split without depression, a dose of physic, and cold cloths applied to the part, with perfect quiet, are all that is required.

If a wound exists, it should be thoroughly cleansed and kept aseptic by repeated dressing on antiseptic lines.

Depressed bone, if provoking brain disturbance, must be levered up, but where no such disturbance exists it should be left alone, and the course suggested above followed out.