4438 LAMENESS. REMEDIES FOR SPLENT. [BOOK III. 



the splent shows itself upon the cannon, or shank- 

 bone, which it does at length on the inside. Si- 

 milarly hereto, it affects the bone of the hind leg, 

 and then acquires the name of bone-spavin. In- 

 flammation of the skin is soon felt, and the horse 

 goes lame until the splent is completely thrown, 

 and afterwards he does as well as ever, except re- 

 taining the splent mark, perhaps ; but severe cases 

 occur, that do not terminate so favourably. Such 

 happens when the leg undergoes very rude con- 

 cussion, that causes the enlargement and rupture, 

 which constitutes the disease, at the kinder part of 

 the leg, where it meets with tendons or the sus- 

 pensor ligament — (See back view, plate 2, fig. 1 , 2.) 

 The lameness and the inflammation are then at their 

 highest state of excitement, and the splent requires 

 careful attention, 



Remedy. — But should not the horse throw out 

 the splent on this last mentioned dangerous part, 

 and become lame, he will yet suffer much in all 

 ordinary cases ; for the enlargement of the bone 

 strains the membrane which covers it tightly, as 

 described in Book i. sect. 17. For this purpose 

 apply a warm stimulating embrocation> which af- 

 fords relief in the more favourable cases; but when 

 the splent rises under the ligament or tendon, 

 blistering or firing must be resorted to. The latter, 

 however, is proper only in extreme cases, and only 

 to be adopted when blistering is found inadequate 

 to the purpose : if the swelling is hot and tender, 

 firing would have the effect of enlarging the whole 



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