FRAGILITAS OSSIUM. 201 



When this change takes place the condition is a very ob- 

 vious one, and plainly discernible, after death, in the can- 

 cellated tissue of the bones. Old horses have a predisposition 

 to this trouble. 



Symptoms. — The disease chiefly affects old horses. The 

 animal moves stiffly, and may have a roached back ; he 

 shows a tendency to ring-bone, spavin, etc. ; when down has 

 difficulty in getting up ; if you cast such an animal or he 

 falls, fracture of some of the bones is almost sure to result. 



Treatment. — Like the previous condition, it is incurable, 

 and therefore useless to treat. 



Enchondroma.— This consists of a cartilaginous growth 

 occurring on various parts of the body, often in connection 

 with the stifle, and in cattle it is frequently noticed in con- 

 nection with the ribs. It is a non-malignant growth, and 

 does not, as a rule, interfere much with the animal's useful- 

 ness, and he will remain in prett}^ good condition for some 

 time ; at other times it will increase to such an extent that 

 destruction" of the animal becomes unavoidable. 



SPLINT. 



From' the Italian word sp'ineUa. It consists of an exostosis 

 or osseous enlaro-ement situated on the inner side of the 

 limb, involving both the large and small metacarpal bones, 

 and usually situated about the lower portion of the upper 

 third of the bone. Frequently it involves the articulation be- 

 tween the large and the small metacarpal bones, and when 

 close to the knee-joint it is likely to set up more or less 

 irritation in connection with the articulation, and give rise 

 to caries, etc. The high splint is therefore the most serious, 

 and according to whether the splint is high or low in situation, 

 does the practitioner pronounce the horse sound or unsound. 

 Splints may and do occasionally occur on the outside of the 

 foreleg, and also occur in connection with the hind-leg. 



