Ill 



spavins. Splents are brought on by beins; too early 

 put to work: and thtiTe is another very common 

 cause, but not usually attended to, which is the raisin <v 

 the outside of the foot by calkins, or by a tliick heel, 

 which, throwing the weight on the inner side, puts 

 the parts on the stretch, and weakens them. It is of 

 very great consequence to consider the situation of a 

 splent, for on that depends whether it is hurtful or 

 harmless. When it is situated close to the canon or 

 shank bone, it is seldom of any consequence, for it 

 does not interfere then with any of the tendons or 

 ligaments that are in constant mot-on upon the ilex- 

 ion or extension of the foot. But if it is situated 

 more backward, and appears among the sinews, it is 

 then a f^erious evil, and almost certainly will lam.e 

 the horse.— Horses in old age generally lose their 

 splents, unless very large. 



STABLE. 



The limits of this little Treatise do not permit 

 more than a few hints, of the more important kind, 

 on this suljfject. Stabling of horses, as it is wholly a 

 deviation from nature, so it is surely paving the way 

 to the attack of many diseases; and we really find 

 that the higher this artificial system is carried, so 

 much the more are the horses who are the subjects of 

 it obnoxious to disease. As, therefore, our comforts 

 and convenience have made a life of art necessary to 

 these animals, and thereby rendered them liable to 

 disease, so should our endeavours be turned towards 

 the prevention of those maladies, which a little atten- 

 tion will, in most cases, in a great measure effect. 

 A stable should be airy: in nothing are the horse- 



L2 



