The Vet. Book 



back or side of the canon-bone. All classes of 

 horses are liable to splint, but such is more detri- 

 mental in animals required for fast work. The 

 splinty deposit represents the legacy of an acute in- 

 flammation of the bone-skin at the seat of the 

 splint, in fact constitutes nature's method of repair, 

 at the seat of injury. 



A splint may be simple or compound. In the 

 former, there is a solitary deposit of new bone, 

 whereas in the latter several deposits (splints), 

 which are commonly more or less connected 

 together, forming an irregular chain between the 

 large and small splint bones. The size of the 

 splint does not necessarily bear any relationship 

 to the degree, and duration of, lameness. When 

 a splint is situated close beneath the knee, it is 

 very liable to give rise to persistent lameness, and 

 Veterinary Surgeons have agreed that such should 

 always be a cause of rejection, when examining 

 the soundness. All forms of splint really constitute 

 unsoundness, and the presence of it ought to 

 bring about the abatement (say £$) of price. 

 Lameness is more liable to arise in young horses 

 than in the case of seasoned ones. 



The chief cause of splint is concussion ; sprain, 

 and external injury, such as a blow, etc., on the 

 canon-bone. Many believe it to be hereditary. 

 Lameness is often present whilst the splint is being 

 formed. Splint sometimes disappears spontaneously. 

 If necessary the deposit can be removed by opera- 



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