SFLENT, REMEDIES FOR. 175 



0» t. — II may be effectually removed at first, by blistering, as in cases tf 

 oone-spaviii; but when the disease has lasted a long time, firing must be re- 

 smted to with the same precautions as those before recommended. Ease may 

 be affoi j.'d by adding to the thickness of the heels of the shoe. 



SPLENT 



May be looked upon as a disorder of the fore-legs, tliough occurring on th«» 

 hind one.j, at times. 



Cau!<c. — Working of young horses before they have acquired sutficient 

 stamina, or on labour which is much beyond their strength, as in case of 

 spavin, curb, &c. to wliich the reader is referred, and the concussion which 

 the leg receives at every stop upon hard ground, stones, &c. 



Sympioms. — Frequent lameness, that goes off and returns without appa- 

 rent cause for either, before the s[)Ient shows itself upon the shank-bone, which 

 it does above the knee, inside. Similarly hereto, it affects the bone of the hind 

 leg, and then acquires the name of bone-spavin. Inflammation of the skin is 

 soon felt, and the horse goes lame until the splent is completely thrown, and 

 afterwards he does as well as ever, except retaining the splent mark, perhaps ; 

 but severe cases occur, that do not terminate so favourably. Such happens 

 when the shank bone has received the concussion, that causes the enlarge- 

 ment and rupture, which constitutes the disease, at the hinder part of the leg, 

 where it meets with tendons or the suspensor liganumt — (See back view, plate 

 2, fig. 2, 3.) The lameness and the inflammation are then greatest, and the 

 splent requires our careful attention. 



Remedy. — But should not the horse throw out the splent on this last men- 

 tioned dangerous part, ami become lame, he will yet suffer much in all ordi- 

 nary cases; for the enlargement of the bone strains the membrane which covers 

 it tightly, as described in Book 1. sect. 17. p. 20. For this purpose apply a 

 warm stimulating embrocanon. which affords relief in the more favourable 

 cases; but when the splent rises under the ligament or tendon, blistering or 

 firing must be res(trte<J to. The latter, however, is proper only in extreme cases, 

 and only to be adopted when blistering is found inadequate to the purpose ; if 

 the swelling is hot and tender, firing wrould have the effect of enlarging the 

 whole bone of the leg, and even the blistering liquid is improper when this 

 symptom is highly prevalent. Rather let the heat subside, or assist it in doing 

 so by means of Goulard's extract, diluted with water, frequently applied. 

 When this has reduced the heat, employ the following 



Liquid Blister. 



Cantharides pulverised, 4 drachms. 



Mix with sweet oil to the consistence of treacle, and apply the same twice 

 during the day ; thus, — Let the hair be clipped off close from the part, and 

 all round the leg, and the blister well rubbed with the hand for five or ten 

 minutes If this does not cause further swelling and a discharge of a clammy 

 nature, a third application of the liquid blister becomes necessary. After a 

 day has elapsed, dress two or three days with hog's lard, and the patient may 

 be walked about, to get rid of the stiffness. It may be proper, after this, 

 farther to reduce the heat by more applications of the Goulard's extract, as 

 above. 



Shoeing is su[)poscd to occasion splents sometimes, it being the practice with 

 •nost smith? to make the inner heel of their shoes thinner than the outer; and 

 die inn«r heel being also lower than the outer, occasions the splent bone tc re- 



