SPLINT. 297 
downward, the outward carriage of the shin being an endeavor to lessen 
the pain which attends upon the natural action. 
Should no “dishing” be remarked, next observe whether the leg is 
fully flexed or advanced; and, after the hints thus received, the inves- 
tigation may be resumed with a better prospect of success. 
The treatment of splint is conveyed in the old maxim, ‘time and 
patience.” Rest will do more than physic. A man, therefore, may as 
well let his horse rest in his own stable, as pay for rest, lodging, and 
useless treatment in another place. Splints, moreover, if only subjected 
to rest, accompanied with liberal feeding, are likely the sooner to attain 
their maximum magnitude. If they are interfered with under the pre- 
tense of treatment, the irritation may cause them to increase; thus the 
proprietor, through his impatience, may purchase an injury. 
When they are acutely painful, a poultice, on which one drachm of 
opium and one drachm of camphor is sprinkled, will frequently afford 
relief. They may also, at such times, be rubbed with a drachm of chloro- 
form combined with two drachms of camphorated oil. These measures, 
however simple, aim at mitigating the present symptoms—they do not 
even infer the possibility of curing the disease. Periostoteomy pre- 
tended to do something of that sort; but has failed so often, it is now 
seldom recommended by practiced veterinarians. 
When, however, a particle of the bone interferes with a tendon, the 
lameness is so acute that often the choice lies between cure and death; 
for some, even of present proprietors, scorn to sell a favorite horse which 
has become sick in their service. In these cases, it is lawful to open the 
skin, and with a fine saw, a chisel or a sharp knife, to remove the offend- 
ing growth; after the operation, leave the skin open and dress the wound 
with a lotion made of chloride of zinc one grain, to water one ounce, 
This application has the great merit of keeping down granulations; but 
employ nothing irritating to the bone, or the result may be worse than 
the injury which has been removed. 
Splints sometimes occur on the outer side of the hind leg; there, how- 
ever, they are little thought of. The hind leg propels the horse, but 
does not support its body; therefore, splints of this last sort are less 
unpleasant to the rider. The hind leg, not bearing much weight, splints, 
when situated on that member, do not occasion very severe lameness, 
and the enlargement being located upon the outside of the shin, is thereby 
removed from the possibility of being struck by the opposite hoof. For 
these reasons, splints of the foregoing nature are considered trifles, and 
are rarely esteemed worthy of much notice. 
To check the further enlargement of a splint with a fair chance of also 
removing the deformity—though with no hope of releasing the parts 
