40 



in their organization may be easily ascertained, 

 by pressing that part of tlie coronet with tlie 

 hand. If sound and healthy, they will yield 

 to the pressure ; but, if converted into bone, 

 they will feel hard and inelastic. In this latter 

 state, they generally occasion lameness, or, at 

 least, an imperfect motion; and certainly, 

 under those circumstances, a horse cannot be 

 considered as sound. 



LAMENESS IN THE LEG. 



The bones of the leg are frequently diseased 

 by ossifications, or bony excrescences, arising 

 in different parts of the limb. These ossifica- 

 tions are distinguished by various names, ac- 

 cording to the situation of the part affected, 

 'ciz. SPLENT, 



RING BONE, 

 BONE SPAVIN. 



The most common of these is the Splent ; 

 and indeed there are few horses without them, 

 at some part of their existence. As a Splent, 

 however, often occasions lameness, it will be 

 necessary to point out under what circum- 

 stances it may be considered as indicative of 

 unsoundness. 



Splents generally arise on the inside of the 

 shank bone, between the knee and the fetlock 



