SPECIAL DISEASES OF THE BONE. 



io8. Splint is generally looked upon as a bon}^ enlargement, and is 

 usually found on the inside of the fore leg, just below the knee, 

 though occasionally seen on the outside, and also, but rarely, on the 

 hind shanks. It is due to an injury or concussion, setting up 

 inflammation of the bone and periosteum, and resulting in the 

 throwing out of bony matter forming an Exostosis, or bony tumour. 

 Young horses, of the light class, are most subject to it, chiefly through 

 their bemg put to too fast and heavy work on hard roads, before their 

 bones are properly set ; some breeds being more prone to it than 

 others. When formed on the large shank bone, and well forward 

 towards the front of the bone, although the splint may be of large 

 size and unsightly, it seldom causes any lameness, and is not nearly 

 of so much consequence as when inflammation takes place at certain 

 points of attachment between the large shank and inner small splint 

 bone, along with the exudation of bony material implicating the 

 interosseous ligament, which either becomes absorbed or ossified, 

 and the union of the two bones takes place with or without enlarge- 

 ment. (See Plate VII., No. 3x). This may be termed true splint, and in 

 many cases causes a very troublesome and protracted lameness. If 

 care and rest, with suitable treatment be not early adopted, the 

 inflammation and bony formation may extend behind and under the 

 suspensory ligament to the outer splint bone. At its commencement, 

 this class of splint is not easily detected, as there is nothing to be seen 

 or ielt, only a peculiar lameness, with a characteristic nodding and 

 dropping of the head, noticeable both on hard and soft ground when the 

 horse is trotted, while little or no lameness is observed in the walk. 

 On pressing the finger firmly between the large and small bones on the 

 inside, below the knee, the animal shows pain, and may rear up, owing 

 10 the sharp twinge produced by the pressure on the inflamed structure. 



109. The treatment for vSphnt is to give rest, with cold water 

 applications, until the inflammation subsides; then blister — and — 



