234 The Diseases of Animals 



BIG -KNEE AND OTHER ENLARGEMENTS 



Big-knee in horses is comparable with ring-bone or 

 spavin, except that it occurs at the knee-joint. There 

 is inflammation, followed by a bony bunch, or exostosis, 

 and often by anchylosis. Firing, a blister and rest 

 comprise the best treatment. Horses affected in this 

 way are of little value. 



Inflammation followed by exostosis and anchylosis 

 may occur at almost any joint in the body. The symp- 

 toms and treatment are practically the same as for 

 ring-bone, spavins and big-knee. 



SPLINT 



A "splint" is an exostosis occurring on the inside of 

 the fore leg below the knee, between the splint-bone 

 and the cannon-bone. It rarely occurs on the out- 

 side, or on the hind leg, and such cases are prob- 

 ably due to an injury. Splints are rather common in 

 young horses, especially colts, but unless they are 

 close to the knee so that inflammation is liable to 

 extend to the knee-joint, they are usually of little im- 

 portance, except for the blemish that the bunch causes. 

 In some cases there may be persistent lameness asso- 

 ciated with the splint. Such animals are considered 

 to be unsound. 



The splint-bone on the inside of the fore leg is a 

 small bone attached to the side of the cannon-bone 

 by means of ligaments. On the top of this splint- 

 bone rests one of the bones of the knee. Any severe 



