182 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



and anchylosis of the joint, than they have been at- 

 tended with successful results ; and no treatment has 

 up to the present time been found equal to firing, when 

 the irons have been properly heated, and the system 

 properly cooled. 



SPLINTS. 



A morbid growth of bone from the canon bone is 

 termed a splint, and is most frequently met with inside 

 of the fore leg, and on the outside of the hind, which 

 fact has led many to assume that disease of the artery 

 must be the predisposing cause ; but be this as it may, 

 there can be but little doubt but that concussion is the 

 exciting cause. If the growth of bone be extensive, 

 and form too rapidly to admit of the periosteum being 

 able to adapt itself to the distention, great pain and in- 

 flammation will be the result, or, if the splint interfere 

 with and press on any of the ligaments or tendons, the 

 inflammation will be sufficient to cause lameness. In 

 these cases cooling and lowering treatment must be 

 adopted, with entire rest until the inflammation has 

 ceased, when the hair should be cut off immediately 

 above and around the splint, and biniodide of mercury 

 rubbed in, and the dressing repeated, if necessary, once 

 a fortnight. 



In slight cases of splint, where the growth of bones 

 forms slowly and causes little or no inflammation, no 

 treatment is necessary. 



