SPLINTS.] 



THE HOESE, AND 



[splints. 



nature than the zebra, and is said to have 

 been domesticated at the Cape. It inhabits 

 the same parts of Africa as the zebra, but is 



found in separate herds, never associating with 

 that species, perhaps on account of the in- 

 herent ferocity of the latter. 



CHAPTER X, 



SPLINTS; bone-spavin; kingbone; anchylosis. 



SPLINTS. 

 Splints are bony excrescences, situated on 

 the inside of the fore leg, and rarely occur on 

 the outside, in consequence of that part in the 

 structure of the horse being more under his 

 direct weight. When the horse has one of his 

 fore legs off the ground, there is more weight 

 thrown on the inside of the leg that is on the 

 ground ; consequently, the small inside bone 

 united to the shank bone has more work to 

 perform than the outer one, from the super- 

 abundant weight it has to sustain ; hence in- 

 flammation frequently begins in the attach- 

 ment of the large to the small bone, which is 

 of a cartilaginous substance, and, on tlie 

 slightest exertion, readily assumes a disposition 

 to form bone. But splint will frequently 

 occur in horses that never have done a day's 

 work. Even when young, and racing about 

 the fields at grass, splint will be produced ; but 

 •when this happens from such a cause, it seldom 

 produces lameness, as the coolness of the 

 atmosphere in which they are kept acts as a 

 sedative, and reduces the inflammation. Splints 

 arising from travelling, exhibit much more in- 

 flammation than they do when they arise from 

 the cause just mentioned. This is frequently 

 caused by the warmth of the stable in 

 which the horse has to lie ; and although the 

 disease may not have assumed a form above 

 half the size of a pea, it will be the means of 

 producing the most painful lameness. Another 

 cause of splint is occasioned by the speedy-cut, 

 which is just under the knee. This has been 

 known to proceed so ftir, that valuable horses, 

 good hackneys, have been doomed by it to slow 

 work during the remainder of their lives. The 

 cause of this is from its interfering with the 

 176 



bones of the knee, or proceeding inwards, and 

 thereby affecting the suspensory ligament. 

 The remedies for splints are now more humane, 

 and have a better effect, than those formerly 

 in use. The practice at tlie Royal Veterinary 

 College, is to divide the skin above and below 

 the enlarged bone ; then to pass a seton im- 

 mediately over it, changing and dressing the 

 seton, consisting of coarse tape, every day with 

 a digestive ointment, composed of the following 

 ingredients : — 



Hog's Lard . . . 

 Common Turpentine 



6 oz. 



2 „ 



Another method practised at the College was 

 to cut down on the top of the splint, and divide 

 the periosteum, or the membranous skin-like 

 substance immediately attached to the bone ; 

 the stretching of which, in consequence of the 

 bony excrescence or splint, is the cause of the 

 lameness. These remedies, however, though 

 practised at this royal establishment, are not 

 calculated for practice either in town or country, 

 as both of them leave a considerable llemish, 

 which always deteriorates the value of the 

 horse. The following mode of treatment leaves 

 no blemish, and is generally successful. If the 

 case is a recent one, 



Spirit Turpentine 1 oz. 



Olive Oil 2 „ 



Eub this well on the part, night and morniagi 

 and wind a woollen bandage moderately tight 

 round tiie leg. By removing the ordinary 

 shoe, and putting on a thick-heeled one, it 

 will greatly relieve the affected part. Should 

 the lameness not disappear in the course of 

 three days, then some stronger application 



