234 The FarrierV New Guide, Cm. LXXVIIL" 



Eoncs is the wideft, which is very natural ; and in fome Ca- 

 fes, but efpecially when they are of long Continuance, they 

 not only afccnd to the Knee, but go a good Way down the 

 Shank, and lometimes backwards towards the Mafter-finew. ' 

 ^„ Opts are little hard Subftances that ariie 



■^ ^ ^' among the fmall Bones of the Knee, on the 



Infide ; they grow out of the gummy Subftance which fal- 

 lens thofe Bones together, and derive their Origin from a 

 Matter like that v/hich produces Splents, and like them 

 proceed from the fame Caufe, vi%. the ftraining of a Horfe 

 while he is young, and before his Joints be well knit ; and 

 from hence alfo we may underftand the Nature of all thofe 

 hard 1 umors already treated of, which grow near the 

 Joints, whether they be Spavins^ Jardojis, Curbs, or of any 

 other Kind, their chief Difference confifting in their Situa- 

 tion, being all of them form'd of a Matter, which, in time, 

 grows hard, yea, even as the Bone itfelf ; and this is the 

 Reafon why they cannot be mov'd, but by things that are 

 of the greateft Efficacy. Notwithftanding, if they be dif- 

 cover'd before they acquire fuch a Degree of Hardnefs, they 

 may be made to yield to lefs powerful Remedies than what 

 we are fometimes condrain'd to make ule of. 

 cri n . f But as to Spkiits, which are our prefent 



<:lt«*"'^&i Bufinefs, it is very plain from what has been 

 fiid concernmg their Origin and Orowth, if 

 the Infirmity could be difcovered at firll, they might be 

 kept down, and wholly prevented by the Application of 

 firm_ Bandage upon the Shank ; tor by it not only the Bones 

 would be conftantly kept clofe together, but the Pcriojhum 

 and Flefii united to the Bones, lb that there would be no 

 Room for any vagrant Matter to lodge between them ; 

 but fince it is otherv/ife, that thefc are feldom taken Notice 

 of until they bring a Deformity along with them, or a 

 Halting, they muft therefore be treated as other hard Sub- 

 Hances of the like Nature. 



And Firfi, If the Horfe be young, and the Splent not of 

 a very old Handing, an Attempt is to be made to diflblve 

 it ; and for that Purpofe nothing is preferable to the Mer- 

 curial Plaiiler, inferted in the 75th Chapter, which muft be 

 rnply'd fpread on Leather, and continued a confideiable 

 Time, (having av/ay the Hair as often as it is renew'd ; 

 but if it is not to be remov'd without Suppuration, then 

 rub it foundly with :he Handle of a Hammer; and aftei* 

 its Subftance has been thus bruiied, it may be brought to 

 an Impoilhumc, by applying a Mucilage Plaiiler, or fome 



£Oo4 



