858 CAUSE OF SPLINTS. 



or inwards excessively, as well as of those which stand with the legs 

 widely extended or too close together. Defective shoeing may lead 

 to aplinl formation by its favouring striking and unequal distribution 

 of weight in the joints. During military evolutions injuries are often 

 caused by striking, by unequal distribution of weight, especially in 

 restive horses, and also by the animal being tired or constitutionally 

 weak. Continued severe work on stones in large towns favours the 

 production of splints. Coarsely-bred animals suffer oftener than 

 well-bred, and the splints are usually larger. Inasmuch as defective 

 formation is often a contributing cause of splint, the inheritance of 

 a pre-disposition to their production can be explained without 

 resorting to Didfield's idea that the drinking water has some influence. 



Many peculiarities of the disease still require explanation, such as 

 its simultaneous and exactly symmetrical appearance on both fore 

 legs, even in old horses, and the more frequent appearance on the 

 left fore limb. The reports of the Prussian army show that splints 

 occur twice as often on the left fore limb as on the right. It is 

 possible that the frequently performed "right gallop" may afford 

 an explanation of this. 



Symptoms and course. (1) Lameness. The pain resulting from 

 osteo-periostitis produces lameness, which is therefore a regular 

 accompaniment of the development of splints. It is seldom absent, 

 but its character depends partly on the position, extent, and intensity 

 of the process, partly on the work done and on the animal's 

 sensitiveness. Lameness is less common in coarse-bred than in well- 

 bred horses. When periostitis is caused by mechanical injury, 

 lameness disappears with its subsidence, and only returns if the 

 injury be repeated. In such cases it last about three weeks. Partial 

 rupture of the interosseous ligament recurs very easily, causing the 

 lameness not only to continue for longer periods, but also to return, 

 and therefore splints of a longish shape occurring on the small meta- 

 carpal continue to interfere with the animal's usefulness for a long 

 time, frequently for many months. In splint near the knee there 

 is danger of inflammation extending to the knee-joint ; the lameness 

 then continues for longer periods, sometimes indeed becoming chronic, 

 from changes in the knee producing arthritis, and from mechanical 

 interference with the mobility of the joint by large exostoses in its 

 immediate neighbourhood. Splints at this point following on injury 

 often produce chronic lameness. 



Lameness may therefore be caused — ■ 



1. By periostitis or osteo-periostitis. 



2. By inflammation of the knee-joint. 



