264 THE MODERN HORSE DOCTOR. 



surface. In such cases we may expect lameness; but if seldom 

 lasts long, for the bones soon become anchylosed — glued to- 

 gether ; and should the tumor be rough, so as to produce lame- 

 ness, there will soon be thrown out on its contiguous tissues a 

 fibrous layer, which to some extent prevents friction. This form 

 of splent, having eminences, depressions, and a rough, irregular 

 aspect, may be denominated tuberculated splent : it generally 

 interferes with the motion of neighboring parts. A splent of 

 the circumscribed kind — a tumor about midway between the 

 superior and inferior ends of the canon, on the inside — generally 

 differs from the above, in presenting a smooth eminence, with a 

 well-defined outline, varying in size from that of a bean up to a 

 walnut. 



Cause of Splent. — A good deal of speculation is afloat as to 

 the cause of splent. We are aware that it may be produced by 

 a blow, or injury in the form of sprain. If it come from a blow, 

 we should be apt to consider that the animal himself was the 

 cause of it, by striking with the opposite foot ; although he gen- 

 erally strikes the fetlock, or else the inside of the knee ; but he 

 may once in a while have an ill-adapted shoe placed on his 

 foot, and then, in consequence of being reined up suddenly, or 

 getting one foot into a hole, may, without the knowledge of the 

 person riding or driving, inflict a slight blow on the inside of the 

 limb, which may prove, in a predisposed subject, the exciting 

 cause of this affection. Predisposition may lurk in breed ; and 

 from the fact that many animals are now to be met with carrying 

 about with them miniatures of ancestral deformity, spavin, ring- 

 bone, &c, we may presume that splent, at times, comes under 

 this category. 



Treatment. — In the early stages, supposing some inflamma- 

 tory symptoms present, we resort to cooling, evaporating lotions : 

 these are various. The following will probably answer the pur- 

 pose ; we have used it extensively, and found it efficient : — 



Acetic acid, 2 ounces, 



Water, 8 ounces, 



Chloric ether, 1 ounce. 



Mix ; take a pad, composed of three or four folds of cotton cloth, 

 immerse it in the mixture, place it over the seat of splent, then 



