SPLINT. 2'21 



bony tumour below the knee and above the pastern a 

 splint. Their causes are various : early and hard 

 work ; over-weighting of the horse ; exhaustion and 

 external violence. 



The most general cause of splints is hard trotting 

 under a heavy weight. Young horses are most sub- 

 ject to them ; for then the parts are not sufficiently 

 consolidated to endure the strain which an older 

 animal might sustain without injury. The inside of 

 the leg is the place where they generally appear. 

 Inflammation is first produced, accompanied with heat, 

 swelling, and pain. The horse shrinks back when 

 the part is pressed; he does not, when in motion, 

 freely bend the leg; but often exhibits that peculiar 

 action which is denominated "dishing;" which word 

 implies that when the fore leg is raised and in the air, 

 it is decidedly inclined in the outward direction. 

 Lameness, of course, is present; but, as a general 

 rule, it exists only while the inflammation continues. 

 This is, in a great measure, consequent upon the 

 swelling rendering the periosteum tense ; or upon the 

 fibrous covering to the bone, beneath which the en- 

 largement is situated, being stretched on the tumour 

 during the action of the limb. When the inflamma- 

 tion abates, the swelling is converted into bone ; and 

 with the change sensation departs. The horse becomes 

 sound ; the splint being of no further importance than 

 so far as its size may be a deformity, or expose it to 

 being struck ; or so far as it may interfere with the 

 springy action of the animal, which, however, it 

 seldom does to any sensible degree. In some few 

 cases, however, a splint will be so situated as to inter- 

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