SPLINTS 509 



.absolutely free from some callosity that may be called a splint, and notwith- 

 standing the fact that they seldom give trouble, they are, as it were, sleeping 

 dogs, and may at any time be awoke to activity and be a source of lameness 

 when the subject is put to unusual exertion. 



The Treatment of a splint will depend upon the state in which it exists, and 

 upon the purpose to which the horse possessing it is destined. If no 

 lameness exists, and the blemish is not objected to, it is far better not to 

 meddle with it, for in the course of a few years it may disappear by 

 absorption. Although lameness from splint will generally cease with 

 complete rest, there will in the majority of cases be a larger growth when 

 thus left to nature, than if treated with some blistering material. Of these 

 there are a great variety, but probably for the particular purpose under 

 review none answer's so well as biniodide of mercury in the form of an 

 ointment, and in the proportion of one to seven, eight, or ten parts of any 

 convenient vehicle, as lard, vaseline, lanolin, or butter. Befoi^e applying it 

 the patient should have an aperient dose of from three to five drachms of 

 aloes (see Physic). The patient should be secured to the pillar reins when 

 blistered for this or any other cause in fx'ont, and there is a right and a 

 wrong way of setting about it. Two stout hempen halters, the one put on 

 in the usual way and the other left-handed, are to be preferred to any kind 

 of bridle and bit, since some horses are very violent when suffering the pain 

 of a blister, and not a few mouths have been injured by a i-eckless disregard 

 of consequences in trying to get at the seat of pain. The halters should be 

 so fastened that the patient cannot get his head low enough to touch the 

 blistered parts by raising the limb. The veterinary surgeon takes all 

 necessary precautions, while the damaged muzzles and eyes one often sees 

 as the result of amateur blistering are generally to be traced to the neglect 

 of these very necessary restraints. The morning should be chosen for 

 operations of the kind when the groom is in attendance, and can pacify the 

 patient and see that he does not get into any difficulty. The worst of the 

 pain will then have passed off before the attendant leaves his charge for the 

 night. Many of the destructive blisters advertised at extravagant prices 

 should be avoided, as they too often contain bichloride of mercury and 

 induce sloughing of the skin and permanent blemishes which no after- 

 treatment can avail to remove. Splints vary so much in size, as well as in 

 their production of lameness, that no absolute rule can be laid down as to 

 their treatment — in one case a single application and two or three weeks' rest 

 may prove all that is needed, while in another it should be repeated at short 

 intervals several times. In some of the diffuse splints before referred to, 

 the seton may have to be adopted, or scarification. Neither of these 

 operations should be attempted by the horse- master, who had better seek 

 the aid of a capable veterinary surgeon when any but a simple splint has to 

 be treated. It is the custom to clip the hair closely over the part to be 

 blistered, and it certainly looks more workmanlike, but is not at all necessary 

 if the inunction of the blistering material is thorough. Some eminent 

 veterinarians prefer not to clip any but a coarse, hairy leg, giving as a reason 

 the probable greater amount of absorption to follow from the pressure of a 

 dry hard scab. The "quality of mercy" makes one wish to soothe an 

 inflamed leg next day with warm fomentations, but it had better be left 

 alone^ taking care only to anoint with some simple dressing, as lard or 



