SPLINTS.] 



irODEEN VETEKINAUV riiACTICR 



[no>'E-8PAVijr. 



must be made, more especially if the spliut 

 is larrro. 



MiTcurial Ointment 



1 oz. 



Kub a piece of this, about the size of a liazlc- 

 mit, on tlie part, morniiij^ aud niglit, as long as 

 any rotnains : then apply 



Blister Ointment 2 drachms. 



Ev this method of practice splints will be got 

 rid of witliout the fear of blemish or injury to 

 the leg. If there is an obligation to have 

 recourse to the last remedy above named, have 

 a cradle on the neck of the horse, as he may, 

 by biting it, bo kept more safe from blemish. 



During the application of the local remedies, 

 take of — 



Cape Aloes G drachms. 



Resin, powdered, 6 ,, 



Common soap, to form into a mass. 



Divide into three balls, and give one every 

 second day. For food, give half bran and half 

 corn, made moderately wet. Mr. Youatt says, 

 that if splints are worth while to meddle with 

 at all, their treatment is very simple ; and 

 recommends the hair to be closely shaved off 

 round the tumour — the application of a little 

 strong mercurial ointment rubbed in for two 

 days, to be followed by an active blister. If 

 the spliut is of recent formation, it will gene- 

 rally yield to this, or to a second blister. 



Professor Sewell introduced anew treatment 

 of splints. He removed any inflammation 

 about the part by fomentations or poultices, 

 and then performed the following operation. 

 He commenced by pinching up the skin imme- 

 diately above the bony enlargement, witli tlie 

 finger and thumb of the left hand ; and with 

 the knife, or lancet, or scissors, made an orifice 

 sufficient to introduce a probe-pointed bistoury, 

 with the edge on the convex side. This he 

 passed under the skin the whole length of 

 the ossification beneath, cutting through the 

 thickened periosteum down to the bone. Tiiis 

 being satisfactorily completed, he drew the 

 knife several times backwards and forwards — 

 inserting a small tape or seton, which, if the 

 tumour was of long standing, was kept in a 

 few days. Tliis operation is attended with 

 very little pain to the animal. 



2 a 



nONE.Sl'AVlN. 

 This is an exostosis or bony enlargement in 

 or about the inner part of the hock joint; but 

 more particularly at its lower part; or, in 

 some cases, at the upper end of the leg bone, 

 though spavin may occur on any part of the 

 hock. From the peculiar construction of the 

 hock joint, the number of bones which are 

 there, and its being the seat whence the prin- 

 cipal propelling motion arises, it is little to be 

 wondered at, that horses are so very liable to 

 spavin. Young animals are especially subject 

 to it, in consequence of farmers and breeders 

 putting them to work at too early a period. 

 Farmers generally commence using their young 

 horses in the summer, to assist in drawing 

 their hay or bringing in their corn. Now, as 

 colts pull awkwardly at first, any sudden strain 

 made on uneven ground, or a sudden start 

 forwards, or from the violent exertion put on, 

 the animal will, in all probability, strain his 

 hock. Tliis being a very complicated joint, 

 any of these causes may produce considerable 

 inflammation, lameness, and spavin ; though 

 there are a great number of horses affected 

 with what is termed spavin, that never go lame 

 at all, and some of them even very excellent 

 hunters. This arises from the situation in 

 which the bony enlargement has it seat. If it 

 is at the upper end of the leg bone, and in such 

 a situation as not to interfere with the small 

 bones of the hock joint, it may grow to a very 

 considerable substance, and but slight lame- 

 ness exist. Should this be the case, the 

 treatment of spavin may consist in the use 

 of gentle counter-irritants, which invariably 

 remove the lameness in a very short time. 

 Cooling lotions or repellers, as they are exceed- 

 ingly slow in their operation, and seldom cr 

 ever restore the horse from lameness, are not 

 to be recommended. In colts, however, the 

 mildest methods should be preferred, though 

 their effects are much slower. For a miid 

 application, take — 



Cantharidcs, powdered 

 ^Vhite Wine Vine<:ar . 



4 drachms. 

 4 oz. 



Put tlicse into a six-ounce bottle, and let the 

 mixture stand three or four days, shaking the 

 bottle four or five times a day. At the ex- 

 piration of that time it will be fit for use, 



177 



