86 
SPLENT. 
time call any bony enlargement on the fore leg between the knee 
and fetlock a splent, and talk about and treat it as such. 
Spooner, in his valuable and scientific Treatise on the Foot and 
Leg, defines it, p. 239, as “ a bony deposit situate between the 
large and small metacarpal bones;” and afterwards, under the 
same title, deals with bony tumours on other parts of the fore leg. 
In treating of the splent as defined by himself, he says, p. 239, 
that the absence or presence of lameness “ used to be explained, 
or rather endeavoured to be explained, by saying that the latter 
interfered with the sinew, the other did not. The enlargement, 
however, cannot interfere with the flexor sinews; and it is doubt- 
ful whether its proximity to the suspensory ligament is ever a 
source of lameness.” It would very much contribute to perspi- 
cuity, if writers would agree on different terms to be applied to 
things so different in their origin, and many of them in their pro- 
perties, as splents limited as by Spooner, and the other bony 
enlargements between knee and fetlock ; and for this purpose the 
first may be called splents, being truly such ; any other bony en- 
largement between knee and fetlock a pseudo-splent. Now, it is 
pretty evident that a splent cannot interfere with the flexor ten- 
dons. But the usual explanation of lameness is not confined to 
the flexor tendons, but is generally extended to any interference 
with any tendon or ligament ; and this may be true of splents in 
numerous instances, according to their situation. — But to the 
question, How do those bony enlargements cause lameness'! It 
may be answered in three ways at least. 
1st. By the periosteal inflammation, pain, &c. 
2d. By interference with a tendon or ligament or other sensible 
part. 
3d. By increased or aggravated concussion. 
The first is common to splents and pseudo-splents ; and it is 
remarkable that Spooner almost confines his explanation of the 
lameness from splent, and its treatment, to this mode ; though 
it would seem to be with both kinds the most transient and ma- 
nageable damage. 
As to the second, as has been already remarked, splents may 
effect lameness in a variety of places ; and though splents viewed 
externally when in their usual, i. e. middle place, cannot touch the 
flexor tendons, yet, with due deference to Spooner’s doubt, it would 
seem that they may be so placed, for instance at the lower end of 
the splent bone, as may seem even externally to interfere with the 
suspensor, or a branch of it. But there is another mode, in which 
it is suggested for the consideration of vets, that they may affect 
the suspensors. May not the bony enlargement, or the inflamma- 
tion, extend inwards, and invisibly to the suspensor, or its con- 
