DISEASES OF THE BONES. 



165 



linseed oil, or one part of biniodid of mercury to four or five parts 

 of lard may be used. Keep it on for a day or two and wash off, 

 repeating, if necessary, in a few days. 



SPLINTS. 



This is another form of ostitis and periostitis, affecting the 

 metacarpal bones, and in rare instances the metatarsals. It is 

 usually situated about the lower portion of the upper third of the 

 bone and on the in- 

 ner side. A splint, 

 when not causing 

 lameness, and in a 

 jiosition r e m o v e d 

 from either articula- 

 tion or tendon, is not 

 looked upon as an un- 

 soundness; all other 

 forms are unsound. 

 The causes of splints 

 are concussion and 

 hereditary predispo- 

 sition, more especially 

 that arising from 

 shape and form of 

 leg, which descends 

 from parent to oft'- 

 spring. Splints are 

 generally found in 

 horses newly put to work and in the rotid horse or lighter 

 breeds. They do not always produce lameness. If of the sim- 

 ple kind, lameness is but seldom seen, and when about seven 

 years of age the enlargement disappears, although the deposit 

 may have been of considerable size. 



Symptoms. — Lameness may precede the appearance of any 

 swelling or deposit. If the horse walks sound and drops deci- 



Fig. 32— Splints. 



