THE IMPROVED A.RT OF FARRIERY. 53 



Splents, or Splint, 



Is a disease frequently found among young horses, 

 from being worked too young, but sometimes disap- 

 pears without any treatment. The fore-legs are oftener 

 subject to them than the hinder ones, from the cir- 

 cumstance of their supporting the whole weight of the 

 body, and consequently being more exposed to con- 

 cussion. It consists of a tumour, at first callous, and 

 by degrees converts into a bone, and is not always 

 found in the same part of the leg, but varying its po- 

 sition : in some instances it lies at the fore edge of the 

 matacarpal ; in others at the posterior edge, this situa- 

 tion being infinitely more hurtful than the former, by 

 its pressure on the ligaments, and thus obstructing the 

 free operation of the flexor tendons ; sometimes it 

 exists at the lower part of the cannon or shank, when 

 its influence is more to be feared than when seated in 

 the higher end. Splints are generally situated inside 

 the leg, and most frequently accompanied with inflam- 

 mation ; and lameness is present or absent, according 

 to its position, as when it presses on a tendon or liga- 

 ment the inflammation must give pain, and when near 

 the joint the action is awkward and lame, until custom 

 has made it second nature. 



Treatment. — There are -many diflbrent systems 

 adopted by farriers, and practitioners generally, to 

 get rid of this evil, which not only takes from the 

 beauty of the leg, but oftentimes constitutes unsound- 

 ness, and of course lessens the value of the horse. Se- 

 tons, though frequently employed, leave a blemish, and 

 is by no means so effective as the blister, as does also 

 dividing the periosteum which covers the splint, and 



