860 TREATMENT OF SPLINTS. 



likely to be struck by the other foot. Prognosis is doubtful when 

 the knee is coexistent!} diseased, or when splints have formed close to 

 it, and opinion should be reserved even when the patient, after a 

 long rest, shows no lameness. In cases of this kind in young horses, 

 the splints which remain not infrequently cause renewed lameness 

 on every attempt to work, and, as a rule, never disappear 

 completely^ 



The treatment of splints first demands the removal of the cause. 

 Skilful shoeing is important to prevent striking and to effect a proper 

 distribution of weight, but scarcely comes within our present 

 province. Rest is essential, particularly when the disease is clearly 

 not of mechanical origin. The splints so common in foals and 

 \ earlings often disappear spontaneously, and it is better to wait a 

 reasonable time rather than produce permanent blemishes by undue 

 haste in treatment. 



Local applications of cold water, mercurial ointment, tincture 

 of iodine, &c, are seldom of use. In fully-grown horses a blister 

 may be indicated provided the skin is uninjured. Cantharides 

 ointment, though often recommended, has less effect than mercurial 

 preparations, especially sublimate, employed in concentrated solution. 

 This was a favourite application of the older practitioners, but its 

 use demands caution. One part of sublimate dissolved in four parts 

 of spirit is applied with a feather, and sharply rubbed in. The 

 cutaneous and subcutaneous swelling produced exercises general 

 pressure on the inflamed periosteum, and limits exudation therein. 

 Firing answers the same object, though, without doubt, the subsequent 

 rest is of great importance. 



When objected to, these methods may be replaced by a pressure 

 dressing. A mixture of equal parts of mecurial ointment and lanolin 

 should be rubbed in smartly once a day, and a proper pressure 

 bandage applied. 



Periosteotomy, though revived from time to time, has not been 

 much practised. The operation sometimes shortens the duration 

 of the pain and tension in the periosteum which cause lameness, 

 but usually it neither diminishes the morbid changes nor lessens 

 the lameness, while it sometimes occasions considerable thickening, 

 and even necrosis of bone. Perhaps these troublesome complications 

 might be avoided by strict antisepsis, but the recorded cases are 

 insufficient to settle the question. 



Needle firing has also been recommended and is generally successful. 

 The best method is probably that described by Dollar as " antiseptic 

 firing," where the parts are prepared and afterwards treated like a 



