Journal of Agriculture. 



[8 May, 1907. 



5. Knee Splint. — In this case the bone inflammation {ostitis) involves 

 the head of the splint bone and the most internal of the lower row of knee 

 hones — the trapezoid. On account of interference with the free move- 

 ment of the knee joint the lameness is often inveterate and the bony deposit 

 mav extend in such a way as to involve the whole ioint and cause " stiff 

 knee." 



Detection of Splint Lameness. — It has been indicated above that a 

 huge splint may form without any lameness. Conversely lameness may 

 be exhibited without the appearance of any enlargement ; and further, the 

 degree of lameness in no wise depends on the size of the enlargement. 

 It does however in a measure depend on the degree of severity of active in- 

 flammation ; so that the presence of local heat and tenderness greatly assists 

 to a conclusion even when there is no visible enlargement. In some cases 

 considerable soft swelling may be felt in the earlier stages ; and in acute 



Fii^. 21. — Splint on tlie inside of near 



cases, threatening abscess, the lameness is extreme. The age of the subject 

 is also an aid to the diagnosis of splint lameness, which form of lameness 

 can usually be eliminated if the horse is over six years old or even five. 



The characteristics of splint lameness, which are usually sufficiently 

 marked to give little room for error, are: — 



{a) The lameness in tlie trot is always excessive compared with 



that in the walk. 

 (b) The horse may walk sound, or even trot so, on soft ground but 



is extremelv lame when trotted on a hard surface. 

 ((■) The lameness always increases with exercise. 



{d) The " nodding," or dropping of the head when the foot on the 

 sound side comes to the ground is more marked in splint 

 lameness than in anv other. 



