300 THE HORSE 



given him, during which a wet bandagj should be kcJpt constantly 

 applied, and indeed, in any case of splint severe enough to require 

 operation, the cooling remedies mentioned above should be adopted 

 beforehand. The operation is performed with a probe-pointed 

 narrow knife, shaped like a scimetar, with the cutting edge on the 

 convex side. A small opening is made in the skin about an inch 

 below the splint, and just large enough to admit the knife, which 

 is then introduced and pushed upwards with its flat side towards 

 the skin, till it reaches the tumor, when the convex edge is turned 

 towards this, and several extensive scarifications are made in the 

 periosteum covering it, after which the knife is withdrawn and a 

 fine seton-needle is introduced in its place, and passed upwards 

 until it reaches above the splint, when it is pushed through, and 

 the tape drawn out, and properly secured with a bandage. Of 

 course the horse must be cast and properly secured before resorting 

 to the knife. In the course of ten days or a fortnight, the tape 

 may be withdrawn, and the splint will almost invariably disappear. 

 Sometimes the seton is tried without the scarification, but it is not 

 nearly so successful, and is nearly as troublesome an operation. In 

 most cases both of these operations are unnecessary, and the 

 application of the following blister (which has a tendency to 

 produce absorption, independently of its counter irritative powers) 

 will have the desired eff'ect. 



Take of Biniodide of Mercury .... 1 drachm 



Lard 1 ounce. Mix, 



and after cutting the hair short, rub a little into the skin covering 

 the splint, every night, until a free watery discharge is produced 

 from the surface. To facilitate this the leg should be fomented 

 with very hot water every morning and afternoon, and this should 

 be continued for several days after the ointment has been dis- 

 continued. The horse will not gnaw the skin after this applica- 

 tion, and it is a very useful one for general purposes, when 

 counter-irritation is required to produce absorption. If, after a 

 week's interval, the splint does not appear much reduced in size, 

 the ointment should be re-applied, and repeated at similar inter- 

 vals till the swelling is removed. When the bony growth is very 

 extensive, neither scarification nor counter-irritation will be of 

 much service, and the leg must be fired, and afterwards repeatedly 

 blistered, but even with the best and most energetic treatment, 

 the part will seldom become sufficiently sound to stand anything 

 but slow work, 



RINGBONE AND SIDEBONE. 



Ringbone and sidebone both consist in the throwing out of 

 bony matter about the joints of the os coronse ; the former name 

 being given to the disease when it attacks that between it and 



