293 



is firm in the impolicy of interference, and this faith is founded on an 

 experience of many years, during which our practice has been that of 

 abstention. 



Of course there will be exceptional conditions which will at times 

 indicate a different course. These will become evident when tlie occa- 

 sions present themselves, and extraordinary forms and effects of 

 inflammation and growth in the tumors offer special indications. But 

 our conviction remains unshaken that surgical treatment of the oper- 

 ative kind is usually useless, if not dangerous. We have little faith 

 in the method of extirpation except under very special conditions 

 among which that of diminutive size has been named, which seems in 

 itself to constitute a suflicient negative argument. But even in such 

 a case a resort to the knife or the gouge could scarcely find a justifi- 

 cation, since no operative procedure is ever without a degree of haz- 

 ard, to say nothing of the considerations which are always forcibly 

 negative m any question of the infliction of pain and the unnecessary 

 use of the knife. 



If an acute periostitis of the cannon bone has been readily dis- 

 covered, the treatment we have already suggested for that ailment is 

 at once indicated, and the astringent lotions may be relied upon to 

 bring about beneficial results. Sometimes, however, preference may 

 be given to a lotion possessing a somewhat different quality the alter- 

 ative consisting of tincture of iodine applied to the inflamed spot 

 several times daily. If the lameness persists under this mild course of 

 treatment it must of course be attacked by other methods, and we must 

 resort to the cantharidal ointment or Spanish-fly blister, as we have 

 before recommended. Besides this, and producing an analogous effect 

 the compounds of biniodide of mercury are favored bv some It is 

 prepared m the form of an ointment, consisting of l" dram of the 

 bimodide to 1 ounce of either lard or vaseline. It forms an excellent 

 blistering and alterative application, and is of special advantage in 

 newly formed or recently discovered exostosis. 



It remains a pertinent query, however, and one which seems to be 

 easily answered, whether a tumor so diminutive in size that it can 

 only be detected by diligent search, and which is neither a disfio-ure- 

 ment nor an obstruction to the motion of the limb, need receive any 

 recognition whatever. Other modes of treatment for splints are rec- 

 ommended and practiced which belong strictly to the domain of 

 operative veterinary surgery. Among these are to be reckoned actual 

 cauterization, or the application of the fire-iron and the operation of 

 periosteotomy. These are frequently indicated in the treatment of 

 splints which have resisted milder means. 



The mode of the development of their growth; their intimacv 

 greater or less, with both the large and the small cannon bones; the 

 possibility of their extending to the back of these bones under tlie sus- 

 pensory ligament; the dangerous complications which may follow the 



