SPLINT. 217 



This substance, uniting the splint-bones with the shank- 

 bone, is liable to be the seat of inflammation ; and particularly 

 while the horse is young, before this fibro-cartilage has become 

 sufficiently strong. Inflammation may be excited in it by a 

 blow on the leg, by the horse jumping and lighting on solid 

 ground, and like violence; in colts, by j^utting them on hard 

 roads before this ligamentous substance is sufiiciently strong 

 to bear the repeated jars it receives. At the point where the 

 inflammation is seated, a thick, jelly-like substance will be 

 thrown out, forming a tumor; but which soon commences to 

 form bone through it, and finally becomes thoroughly ossified 

 or turned into bone, uniting the splint and large bone firmly 

 together. 



When the splint is forming there is generally lameness, but, 

 as it progresses, the inflammation and tenderness subside, and 

 the lameness disappears; though, should the tumor be so 

 situated as to interfere with the motion of the joint or the 

 free action of the tendons, it may cause permanent lameness. 

 Splint almost always makes its appearance on the inside of 

 the leg. This is doubtless because the inner splint-bone is 

 nearer the center of the body, and necessarily receives more 

 of its weight. The inner splint-bone also supports, alone, 

 one of the three lower knee-bones. Raising the inside of the 

 heel of the shoe too high also causes greater weight to be 

 thrown on the inner splint-bone. 



An experienced eye will detect a splint at a glance, but it 

 may be known to any person by passing the hand from the 

 knee down along the splint-bones, when, if there is splint, 

 either a smooth or a knotted tumor will be found on or near 

 the splint-bone. The knotted tumor has been called tubercu- 

 lated splint. Splint may not impair the usefulness of a 

 horse, when not situated so as to interfere with the free action 

 of the joint or the tendons, but it can hardly be expected to 

 be entirely disregarded by the dealer. 



Treatment. — If the treatment is applied in the early stage 



