132 
ON METACARPITIS. 
had splents in both fore legs*, in which the ossific process is just 
completed. No one was aware of this colt ever having been lame ; 
so slight, if any, were the attendant symptoms of the increased 
local inflammatory action; and I have no doubt that such is often 
the case. 
Metacarpitis is a disease situate at the posterior part of the 
large metacarpal bone, immediately at the origin of the suspensory 
ligament. The form in which it presents itself when it has existed 
for some time, or become, like other diseases of a similar character, 
quiescent, indicated by a more or less return to soundness or use- 
fulness, is a deposit of ossific matter at the superior attachment of 
the suspensory ligament beneath the periosteum, or, to speak more 
correctly, the conversion of that membrane into bone : in which case 
an adventitious membrane is produced, supplying the place of the 
converted periosteum : this will at times be so extensive as to pro- 
duce a prolonged process of bone projecting horizontally back- 
wards between the edge of the suspensory ligament and the side 
of the commonly inner small metacarpal bone, but not connected to 
it, yet in close connection, or, perhaps, actually imbedded in the 
edge of the suspensory ligament. This is most generally on one 
side only, but I have met with it clipping the ligament on both 
sides ; but I do not recollect an instance in which this prolonga- 
tion of the ossific deposit extended beyond the external or poste- 
rior face of the suspensory ligament, so that it could not interfere 
with the action of the flexor tendons. It is this prolongation, when 
placed unusually low down the metacarpal bone, which has given 
rise to the generally received opinion that splent is only produc- 
tive of continued lameness, or to be feared as likely to produce 
such state when it interferes with the sinew. That the disease, when 
shewing so much ossific deposit, should not be observed, is impro- 
bable ; and hence the opinion entertained as to the effect of such 
enlargement upon the action of the sinew ; while, on the other 
hand, others maintain this opinion as the height of absurdity : but 
it is always well to inquire into opinions before they are condemned 
to ridicule ; for had but the investigation been carried out, it 
would have resulted in the separation of these diseases, and shewn 
that, though they may be produced simultaneously by one injury, 
* The colt in which subsequently, by accident, splents were found to exist 
in both fore legs, was under the treatment of my late elder brother ; and another 
case which occurred in his practice illustrates the deposit of ossific matter in 
the manner in which I have stated, though not at the same part. A light 
hackney mare had been lame for a long period ; after death it was discovered 
that granular ossific deposits had taken place beneath the insertion of the ex- 
tensor metacarpi magnus, partially involving the periosteum : no other cause 
for lameness was found to exist. The details, I am sorry to say, were lost at 
his early and untoward death. 
