222 SPLINT. 



fere with the knee-joint, or with some tendons of 

 the leg ; it then causes either imperfect action, or, it 

 may be, permanent lameness ensues. If it does not 

 interfere with the action of the joint, or the play of 

 any ligament or tendon, and is not in an active or 

 growing state, a splint may be unsightly — but it may 

 be of little further detriment to the horse. Some 

 knowledge of the anatomy of the leg or considerable 

 observation as to the effect of splints is necessary to 

 decide on their importance, and to define the hopes 

 that may be entertained from their treatment. 



If they are productive of lameness, poultices or 

 fomentations having been first employed to abate the 

 inflammation ; the hair should then be cut very 

 close around the cause of mischief: a little mercurial 

 ointment may be well rubbed in for three or four 

 days ; or, what is still better, a compound of iodine 

 with mercurial ointment should be used, to which a 

 blister may succeed. The blister should be actively 

 rubbed in on the fourth or fifth morning, the former 

 application having been washed off. If one blister 

 makes no change in the size of the splint, another 

 should be applied: but beyond this it is not worth 

 while to go ; for it will often happen that the effect 

 of the blister is not immediately beneficial ; but begins 

 to become apparent a week or a fortnight after the 

 practitioner imagines he had been labouring in vain. 



In some cases, however, it may be desirable to 

 combine the benefits sought for in the treatment just 

 described : and, when this can be attempted, the 

 following ointment is often used with the best 

 possible effect. 



