66 
LAMENESS. 
at least, we must not look to inflammation alone. It has been 
brought under observation before, that the horse’s constitution is 
such as is peculiarly susceptible of action tending to such forma- 
tions ; to which may be annexed the fact, of our constantly meeting 
with exostoses, of various descriptions, in young unbroke horses — 
colts that have never had even bridles on : we find splents, and spa- 
vins, and ringbones, &c. in subjects by whom no kind of work or ex- 
ertion has ever been performed, and in places where inflammation, 
in no palpable or detectible form at least, has ever made its ap- 
pearance. The tissue that becomes in the generality of these 
youthful subjects converted into bone, is that which constitutes 
the uniting medium between the small metacarpals and metatarsals, 
and between the ulna and fibula and the long bones to which they 
are respectively attached. All these bones sustaining whatever 
weight, happens to be thrown upon them through the strength of 
their attaching substances — they having no resting points below — 
to change this uniting tissue, whenever it is found inadequate to 
the resistance required of it, into bone, and thus enable the at- 
tached and now immovable bones to sustain additional force or 
weight, appears to us like one of those beautiful provisions of 
Nature we have so much reason to admire on other occasions. 
Whether this be or be not the true interpretation of Nature’s 
proceedings, it is certain that as adult age approaches all these 
epiphyses — as they may almost be looked upon — become apophyses , 
or neither more nor less than so many lateral processes or protube- 
rances. 
If Inflammation be not the proximate Cause, what 
IS the cause of these conversions of soft tissues into bone ? 
We have no right — as was said before — to argue the presence of 
inflammation in the absence of every sign by which we are able to 
recognise it. At the same time we can very well imagine — in 
fact, we believe — that any undue stress upon the tissues in ques- 
tion proves the occasion of augmenting their vascular action, and 
that the effect of this is the commencement of a change of fibrous 
or fibro-cartilaginous tissue into osseous substance. According to 
Dr. Watts, it would appear that the ossific action had its com- 
mencement in the periosteal covering of the part, and from that 
extended inward : whether this be the case or no, it is notorious 
enough that the ossific operation does not cease until, besides 
uniting the branch to the trunk bone, it has produced a tumour — 
an exostosis — to which we, in conformity with custom, give the 
name of splent , spavin, ringbone , $c., according to the part upon 
which it is found growing. When horses, however, come to 
be worked, to have their joints sprained or otherwise injured, the 
