2 3 4 The Farrier i- New Guide. Ch. LXXVIIT. 



Bones is the wideft, which is very natural ; and in fome Ca» 

 fes, but efpecially when they are of long Continuance, they 

 not only alcend to the Knee, but go a good Way down the 

 Shank, and fometimes backwards towards the Mafter-finew. 

 ^^ OJlets are little hard Subftances that arife 



•^^ ^' among the fmall Bones of the Knee, on the 



Infide ; they grow out of the gummy Subftance which faf- 

 tens thofe Bones together, and derive their Origin from a 

 Matter like that which produces Splent?, and like them 

 proceed from the fame Caufe, viz. the ftraining of a Horfe 

 while he is young, and before his Joints be well knit ; and 

 from hence alio we may underlland the Nature of all thofe 

 hard Tumors already treated of, which grow near the 

 Joints, whether they be Spavins., Jardons^ Curbs^ or of any 

 other Kind, their chief Difference coniifting in their Situa- 

 tion, being all of them form'd of a Matter, which, in time, 

 grows hard, yea, even as the Bone itfelf; and this is the 

 Reafon why they cannot be mov'd, but by things that are 

 of the greateft Efficacy. Notwithftanding, if they bs dif- 

 cover'd before they acquire fuch a "Degree of Hardnefsj they 

 may be made to yield to lefs powerful Remedies than what 

 we are fometimes conftrain'd to make ufe of. 

 cTf p f But as to Splents., which are our prefent 



c*/ J^^\\. Bufmefs, it is very plain from what has been 

 faid concerning their Origin and Growth, if 

 the Infirmity could be difcove^ed at firft, they might be 

 kept down, and wholly prevented by the Application of 

 firm Bandage upon the Shank ; for by it not only the Bones 

 would be conftantly kept clofe together, but the Periofleuju 

 and Flefli united to the Bones, io that there would be no 

 Room for any vagrant Matter to lodge between them ; 

 but fince it is otherwife, that thefe are feldom taken Notice 

 of until they bring a DeformJty along with them, or a 

 Halting, they mull therefore be treated as other hard Sub- 

 ftances of the like Nature. 



And Firft., If the Horfe be young, and the Splent not of 

 a very old Handing, an Attempt is to be made to dillblve 

 it ; and for that Purpofe nothing is preferable to the Mer- 

 curial Plaifter, inferted in the 75th Chapter, which muft be 

 apply'd fpread on Leather, and continued a conliderable 

 Time, fiiaving away the Hair as often as it is renew'd ; 

 but if it is not to be remov'd without Suppuration, then 

 rub it foundly with the Handle of a Hammer ; and after 

 its Subftance has been thus bruifed, it may be brought to 

 an Impofthunie, by applying a Mucilage Plaifter, or fome 



Q:ood 



