SPLINT. 279 



struck by the foot of the other leg, it does not 

 much matter, and is only a blemish ; but where 

 either the splint-bones or tendons are interfered 

 with the case is different, and the offending deposit 

 must be removed. Rest, light food, and cold-water 

 bandaging is the first step necessary, in order to 

 reduce the inflammation as speedily as possible, 

 and this must be followed by blistering. Where 

 a splint is not badly placed, I would advise the 

 reader to leave it alone; the very remedy itself might 

 make matters worse. There is an operation for splint 

 which I have known and proved to be very success- 

 ful. It is termed periosteotomy. I will explain 

 it. Although the distension of the periosteum is 

 excessively painful, it (the periosteum) may be cut 

 without any very great pain being inflicted. The 

 operation is thus performed : The skin of the leg 

 is moved round by the hand from the back of the 

 leg, as far as it can be so done, until it is over the 

 splint. A downward incision is then made through 

 the skin and periosteum on to the very splint itself. 

 The splint is thus at once freed, and so is the 

 periosteum from any distension. The pain is 

 relieved, and the slit which has been made in the 

 skin soon heals, as it is not over the lunrp formed 

 by the splint. By the time the periosteum has 

 grown again it has adapted itself to the form of 



