EXAMINATION OF THE LEGS AND FEET 377 



As the hand travels along, the tips of the fingers should be made to grip 

 lightly the inner splint-bone and its connection with the canon in search 

 of splints, which will be recognized as small nodosities or lumps either 

 upon the splint-bone or at its junction with the canon. As to whether a 

 splint is an unsoundness, this will depend upon a variety of circumstances; 

 but it is well to understand that it is not necessarily so, or, in other 

 words, that a horse may have a splint and yet be in a legal sense sound. 

 If, however, it should cause lameness at the time, or be in such a position , 

 or of such a size, or of such a form as to do so in the future, the horse 

 would be unsound. The most objectionable position in which a splint can 

 form is at the upper part of the canon, behind and below the knee, where 

 it is bound to encroach upon and interfere with the suspensory ligament. 

 A large splint behind the leg in any position may do the same, or even 

 encroach upon the flexor tendons, where a small one might be perfectly 

 harmless. A small sharp-pointed or asperous splint is more likely to injure 

 parts contiguous with it than one having a round, smooth surface. Further, 

 a splint may be quite out of the way of all tendons and ligaments, but of 

 such a size and in such a position as to render it liable to be struck by the 

 opposite limb. It is, therefore, of the first importance that these points be 

 well considered in carrying on an examination of this region. It should, 

 moreover, be kept in mind that splints, which, by virtue of one or another 

 of these forms, are very objectionable in young animals, are much less so 

 in older ones, where the parts about the splint have by time accommodated 

 themselves to the encroachment of the bony growth. 



The Fetlock. Approaching the fetlock-joint, the examiner will note 

 whether or not the animal has been "unnerved". Evidence of the opera- 

 tion should be sought on either side of the limb a little in front of the 

 back tendons and about 3 inches above the joint (high operation), or in the 

 same situation midway between the fetlock and the coronet (low operation). 

 (See pp. 161-166 of this volume.) Here the scars resulting from the 

 incisions will be found attended with more or less thickening of the skin, 

 and the divided ends of the nerves will be felt as small nodules beneath 

 the skin. If the skin of the heel be pricked with a pin there will be no 

 flinching, the division of the nerves having deprived the part of all 

 sensibility. 



In passing the hand over the fetlock-joint the examiner will recognize 

 any enlargement in front, and then, coming to the long pastern, will some- 

 times find small bony excrescences in front and at the side, and their 

 importance will depend upon their relations to the tendons and ligaments 

 thereabout. An ossific growth beneath the tendon of the extensor pedis, 

 or beneath the branches of the suspensory ligament, as they proceed over 



