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‘grassy fields, unbroken and untouched by the hand of man. Not only,, 
however, are horses of under five years more subject to splints, but at this 
_ period of life they are also more commonly rendered lame by these bony 
* deposits. When one learns that concussion is the chief cause of splints, one 
will readily see how it is that the more purely bred animals, since their work 
is faster, more frequently develop splints, than animals of coarser breed. 
-One will also understand that a splint in a draught horse, not required for 
fast work, is of less serious moment, than in more rapidly moving animals. 
Although we attribute the greater immunity from splints, which cart-horses 
enjoy, mhore especially to the smaller amount of concussion, which their legs 
undergo in progression, we must bear in mind that their limbs, being of 
much heavier build, are not so liable to be injured by continual shock, as are 
those of finer bred horses. We do not often meet with splints in old horses, 
‘but they are sometimes seen, even in horses of advanced age. 
The bones of man and most animals are covered over by a fibrous 
envelope ; and it is inflammation of this covering or periosteum, as it is 
termed, as well as of the bone itself, which results in the formation of those 
osseous deposits, which we know under the term splints. One can easily 
imagine that a young bone, not fully grown, is more liable to become inflamed 
‘by work, more especially when such work causes much concussion. 
It is fortunate that a great number of splints are those which we spoke 
of as simple; and, as these rarely cause lameness, excepting sometimes during 
their period of growth, that is in the early stages of inflammatory action, 
the progression of the animal is not so often interferred with, by this disease 
of the bones, as one might expect. A splint, situated on the outer side of the 
leg, in most instances causes greater lameness, than one seated on the inner 
side: 
It should always be borne in mind, that lameness from a splint does not 
depend upon the size of the deposit. Sometimes, indeed, a very small 
. deposit causes marked lameness, while at other times a very large bony 
-growth may not even alter the gait in any way. One cannot gauge the 
amount of alteration in the bone by the external size and conformation of 
‘the splint, because a very small superficial growth may co-exist with 
inflammatory deposit, existing more deeply. It is not strange that horses 
-often manifest marked lameness, as the result of inflammatory action of the 
‘bone, while as yet there is no external sign of a splint. In such cases, the 
amateur is often at a loss to account for the lameness. There are, however, 
-certain facts which help us in diagnosing correctly, whether the lameness 
~ -proceed from inflammatofy action of the bone, or not. Lameness in a young 
animal, in the first place, is more likely to be due to this cause ; whereas in 
-older animals it is more likely to proceed from navicular disease. 
Again, it is well known that a horse, whose progression is altered by the 
-existence of a splint, walks sound or nearly so; whereas in trotting, the 
‘lameness is very marked. Manipulation of the leg also often reveals heat 
cand tenderness at the usual seat of splint, and a small hard rounded growth 
‘may sometimes be discovered. Pressure upon the site in such instances, 
