220 SPLINT. 



low the knee, in the form of a scar, wound, swelling, 

 or bony enlargement, upon the inside of the leg. 

 This is mostly found in horses with high action ; the 

 hoof or edge of the shoe being struck against the 

 inside of the opposite leg ; the blow is sometimes so 

 violent, and the pain so great, that the horse suddenly 

 drops, to the imminent danger of the rider. A speedy 

 cut materially diminishes the value of the horse i for 

 such an animal can never be considered as safe. 



Should the injury be fresh, the part must be pro- 

 tected, and treated as a common wound. If the place 

 has healed, but still continues sensitive, the tender- 

 ness may be abated or removed by means of cooling 

 applications ; or, should it be accompanied with much 

 enlargement, perhaps the swelling will require pro- 

 tection by means of a leathern covering.. But, if the 

 evil is ever to be prevented, it may be by filing away 

 any projecting edge of the shoe; by rasping down 

 the inside quarter of the hoof; by the use of a shoe 

 one side being higher than the other, and the nails 

 confined to the outer side alone; and especially by 

 not over-weighting the horse, or putting it beyond its 

 pace. Moreover, every one possessing an animal 

 which has recently exhibited this defect should at 

 once attend to the system generally, and not begrudge 

 to an exhausted nature a necessary period of rest. 



SPLINT. 



Splints, strictly defined, are ossifications of a pecu- 

 liar fibro-cartilaginous substance, by means of which 

 the small bones are joined to the large bone of the 

 eg: horsemen, however, agree in calling any little 



