14G HORSE ^VAUUA^TY. 



The cannou mul Pi>Hnt Lonos of a horse arc tho 

 Bamo as tlio sliiii-Lono of a man, and would ap- 

 ]icar to Lo voiy sensitivo to injury or pain, bo 

 tliat a Llow received by a liuuter in poing tlirougli 

 instead of over a gate, or in toxicliiug the top 

 stones of a wall, will often result in a splint that 

 will in no way impair- tlio animal's usefulness. 

 "Where, however, this bony lump occurs at tho 

 back or hind part of tho bone, or near tho joints 

 of the leg, so as to interfere with a horse's action, 

 then a splint is imquest ion ably a defect which is 

 imsoundncss. Splints are, with many horses, he- 

 reditary. In a part of tho country where a 

 thorough-bred horse with bad sjilints was much 

 used, all his stock were liable to splints, and some 

 foals even threw them out before they were broken. 

 A splint, although well forward and out of tho 

 way of sinews and joints, may 1)0 unsoimdness. 

 A gentleman had a hunter, an excellent horse, 

 but which was apt suddenly to fall dead lame. 

 Tho veterinary surgeons were at a loss to iind out 

 what was tho cause of this lameness, which did 

 not continue for long, but spoilt many a run ; for 

 although tho horse had a sjilint on tho leg which 

 gave out, it was so far forward as not to interfere 

 with any tendons. It was suggested to tho gentle- 

 man that possibly the horse when leg weary, struck 

 the splint in his gallop with the other foot, and 

 tlio pain caused tho temporary lameness. After 

 thai, tiio horse was ridden with a side boot on tho 



