198 VETERIXARY MEDIOHSTE AND SURGERY. 



will cause pain; some heat is present, and, hj a carcfnl manipulation, a 

 hard swelling, perhaps smaller than a pea, may be felt. In some cases the 

 exostoses soon develop themselves, and then there can be no further dif- 

 ficulty; but in others, this does not occur for several weeks, and these are 

 most unsatisfactory to the surgeon. In some rare cases the lameness is 

 very excessive, the horse being scarcely able to put any weight upon the 

 affected limb; standing with the toe only touching the ground, with 

 great heat and swelling of the part affected, at the same time suffering 

 from constitutional disturbance to a considerable degree." 



Treatment. — If the splint does not cause lameness, it should be left 

 alone. 



The nature and cause of splint very clearly indicate the treatment re- 

 quired — namely, rest. This powerful sedative may be assisted by the ap- 

 plication of a bandage wet in cold water, around the part affected. 



In most cases these remedies will be sufficient. If, however, after an 

 interval of a month's or six weeks' rest, the horse continues lame, and the 

 seat of the splint under manipulation is very sensitive, it may be advis- 

 able to apply a blister: 



Cantharides in powder | ss. 



Lard , . ^ iij. 



or the biniodide of mercury ointment: 



Biniodide of mercury § i. 



Lard | vi. 



or a seton. 



If the cantharides are mixed with the lard hot, one-half this amount 

 will suffice in the same quantity of lard. 



In some cases, if a splint is treated by rest in the very early stage, the 

 lameness rapidly disappears; but the lameness recurs as soon as the horse 

 is put to work. If this occurs several times, the better plan is to give 

 the animal exercise enough to moderately dcveloj) the splint. 



Williams strongly recommends "subcutaneous periostiomy " or cut- 

 ting with a knife into the new bony formation, or in obstinate cases the 

 use of the actual cautery; such measures, however, are not often neces- 

 sary. 



