SPLINTS. 



157 



Professor Dick taught that a splint never interfered with the 

 action of the flexor-pedis tendon ; that the soft parts adapted 

 themselves to the hard ; and that, although a splint might press 

 upon the tendon, a corresponding hollow was made for it hy 

 absorption of the softer structure. I cannot agree with this. 

 Experience has proved to me that it is wrong, and that the 

 lameness, depending upon the interference of the splint, can be 

 completely cured by the removal of the deposit. 



A simple splint on the outer side of the leg is more apt to 

 cause lameness than one on the inner side. 



The causes of splints are concussion and hereditary predis- 

 position, more especially that arising from shape and form of 

 leg, which descends from parent to offspring. 



Splints are most generally found in horses that are newly 

 put to work, or they may arise in the unbroken colt when he 

 is allowed to gallop and play in the fields. The class of horse 

 most subject is the lighter-bred horse, or that which is called 

 upon to go beyond a walking pace. Heavy cart-horses seldom 

 have splints ; but I see no reason why they should not, provided 

 their legs were subjected to the same amount of concussion. 



Splint^ are exostoses due to a circumscribed superficial in- 

 flammation of the bone and periosteum, and not inflammation 

 of the interosseous ligament, as described by some writers. 

 Numerous specimens in the College Museum prove the cor- 

 rectness of this view. The effects of the concussion which 

 produces this form of ostitis may be due to the immature age 

 of the bone, to peculiarity of shape in the leg, to the method 

 by which the animal is shod, or to work at an early age. Old 

 horseo throw out splints occasionally. 



Spliuts do not always produce lameness. If of the simple 

 kind, when the horse is very young, and before he is broken in, 

 lameness is but seldom seen ; and when over six or seven years 

 of age, he seems exempt from lameness, although the deposit 

 might be of considerable size. 



When simple splints cause lameness, it is during their forma- 

 tion,, that is, during the inflammatory ^stage, and before the 

 periosteum has adapted itself to the pressure. The young 

 horse of good action is the one most likely to suffer, as the 

 effects of shock or concussion are greater and more destructive 

 to liis limbs than to the limbs of a horse with- lower action. 



