Local Injuries. 255 



limb, while lower down the bones suffer much in the 

 same way with those in the fore limb, the results being 

 also similar, and often presenting less favourable chances 

 of success from any kind of treatment. 



Ostitis, Inflammation of Bone, occurs in all bones when 

 subject to injury j but the disease assumes special cha- 

 racters in connection with the cannon or shank-bone. It 

 is common to young race-horses as a result of excessive 

 strain and shock in undeveloped limbs, causing swelling, 

 great soreness, and lameness. 



Treatment consists of division of the investing mem- 

 brane of the bone by the knife. Hot fomentations or 

 poultices; febrifuges, aperients, &c, and when the fever 

 and local inflammation are abated iodine blisters are 

 needed. The chronic form requires cold water, with 

 similar medicines, and later, blisters, <Scc. 



Splints are bony tumours, the outcome of inflamma- 

 tion set up in the ligamentous tissue, which unites the 

 small metacarpal or splint-bones with the larger or shank- 

 bone. The actual cause is concussion, and the resulting 

 inflammation, being continued and aggravated from time 

 to time, supplies an amount of osseous material which 

 not only unites the bones, but also forms a bony tumour 

 upon the surfaces of both. The effect of this is to de- 

 stroy elasticity and the possibility of motion, which in 

 health always exists, and is necessary for the production 

 of free and easy motion. The disease is principally con- 

 fined to the inner side of the bones. Pain and stiffness, 

 lameness, with the presence of a sensitive tumour, are the 

 common signs in the early stages of the majority of 

 cases where the tumour is close up to the knee-joint. If 

 it be located lower down, the freedom from the usual in- 

 convenience is moderated proportionately, even to the 

 absence of lameness. 



Treatment. — Cases of the latter description should not 

 be interfered with. Subcutaneous periosteotomy often 

 gives relief. Aperient No. 3, proportionately reduced, 

 followed by febrifuges, when the state of the system is 

 indicative of febrile action. In simple cases cooling or 

 astringent lotions. Later the actual cautery in various 



