SPLIXTS. 103 



this in many cases does not proceed from their 

 pressure on any sensitive part lying beneath 

 them, but from distention of one of the surfaces 

 (if I may use such a term) that covers them (the 

 Periosteum), in short, one of the skins. This is a 

 very fine, and, I believe, inelastic coating covering 

 the shank-bone ; if, therefore, any protuberance 

 on that bone is produced, its pressure on this 

 covering substance produces pain, irritation, and 

 lameness. If the lameness arises solely from this 

 pressure, rest and cold lotions will usually alle- 

 viate the irritation. The coating, or, in profes- 

 sional phrase, the periosteum, becomes habituated, 

 or accommodates itself, to the distention, and then 

 the horse feels no further inconvenience from it. 

 I feel some confidence in venturing the opinion or 

 ideas I have on this point from the following facts. 



Even as a boy I was addicted to dabbling a little 

 in professional and anatomical subjects, and was a 

 good customer to horse-slayers for legs, feet, and 

 other parts of the horse's frame ; so much so, that 

 if they killed a horse with any rather unusual 

 appearance existing in or on any part of the ana- 

 tomy, that part was generally sent to me to be 

 exchan2;ed for a half crown and a lunch to the 

 man who brought it. 



Having at this early age a favourite horse that 

 had become lame in the middle of the hunting 

 season from a splint, I found, on examining the 



H 4 



