HORSES. 16* 



SPLENT. 



Splents, strictly speaking, are bor substances inter- 

 posed between the larger and smaller bones of the leg. 

 But horsemen generally call any bony tumor along the 

 side of the leg, a splent. They are caused by early and 

 over work, and external violence, and are most common 

 to young horses. The growth of the splent is attended 

 with heat, tenderness and pain, and some lameness. 

 When they have become grown, and the other parts 

 around them have become accommodated to them, they 

 do no material injury, though unsightly, unless they 

 interfere with the action of any joint. This disease is 

 most common to the fore legs. 



Remedy. If they produce lameness, or are in situa- 

 tions where they are likely to, cut off the hair arounc 

 them ; put on a smart blistering plaster, to be kept on 

 three days ; chafe the part strongly with a tincture of 

 flies, and once a day rub in opodeldoc, with one quarter 

 spirits of turpentine, unless this substance is in the 

 opodeldoc. 



Another. Rub on well, for four days, a little mercu 

 rial ointment ; or, better still, a compound of iodine and 

 mercurial ointment. Then wash cleanly, and apply a 

 blister. 



Blister. Mix four drachms of cantharides with sweet 

 oil, to the consistence of molasses, and rub it on with 

 the hand, five or ten minutes. 



SPAVINS. 



Bone Spavin is similar to splent, excepting it is con- 

 fined to the joints, and common to the hind legs. Some 

 call all bony excrescences spavins when on the joints, and 

 splents when on other parts of the legs. The bone 

 spavin, definitely considered, is a bony enlargement at 

 the upper end of the shank bone, inside the hock joint, 

 ox a little below it. It belongs to the hind leg only. 



At the seat of this disorder, the leg is composed of 

 three bones, fitting into one common cavity at the hock 

 11* 



