SPLINT. 491 



the most acute lameness ; and it does so generally in young 

 horses. But a splint may, by its situation, excite also in- 

 flammation in the ligaments and tendons themselves ; it 

 then loses its harmless character, and becomes a source 

 of great evil. As the general nature of splint is that of a 

 conversion of what was fibro-cartilage into bone, so it is 

 evident, in this point of view, that a splint once formed can 

 never be removed : but from the absorption going forward 

 during the later periods of life, it happens that the bulk of 

 the spUnt is diminished, oi', as grooms express it, they 

 ' wear away.' 



Treatment of Splints. — Although, as before stated, we 

 cannot restore the fibro-cartilaginous union, yet we can 

 endeavour to promote an absorption of the hurtful and 

 prominent portion of the exostosis ; or, rather, we can 

 hasten the consolidation, when tenderness and pain will 

 cease, and all further increase be prevented. The appear- 

 ance of splints, as much as their hurtful consequences, has 

 occasioned such varied attempts to remove them. In the 

 olden time very rough means were used for this purpose, 

 which sometimes succeeded, but oftener left matters much 

 worse than before. Such were thumping the swelling with 

 a hammer ; rubbing it violently with a stick ; piercing it 

 with a gimlet, &c. An attempt at removal was also made, 

 and is still occasionally practised, by dissecting away the 

 coverings, when, with a sharp knife, the bony or cartila- 

 ginous swelling was removed. There is no doubt that, 

 when a splint is very prominent, it may be laid bare and 

 extirpated by this means. Pressure, by means of lead, &c. 

 &c., is an invention also of ancient date. Blistering and 

 firing are also very old remedies ; while ' sweating' with oil 

 of origanum, and other essential oils, is of patriarchal ex- 

 traction, and, if not superseded by mechanical removal, will 

 probably last to the end of time. It has lately been the 

 practice to substitute setons for blisters ; but these do but 

 half the work of blisters in twice the time, and are apt to 

 leave a blemish into the bargain : it does, however, appear, 

 that this last method has succeeded in some cases, and after 

 other means had failed. At the Veterinary College, it has 

 likewise been common to divide the periosteum over the 

 splint, by which much relief has been obtained. It has 



