422 
LAMENESS IN HORSES. 
that these are its ordinary sites. And for these reasons — that the fore 
limbs have more weight imposed upon them than the hind, at the 
same time that they experience more concussion than the hind ; 
both which reasons apply to the inner sides of the limb, when com- 
pared with the outer, on the principle of the former being nearer 
to the central line of axis of the body, and of the position of the 
limbs and the construction of their joints being such that weight 
pressing from above inclines to the inner sides, as well as from the 
articulations of the bones, makes more impression upon those parts. 
Splint rarely produces Lameness. — Not only has unaided 
observation taught this, but it is a fact based upon all the best 
veterinary experience. Formerly, splints were regarded as great 
grievances. Solleysell and other old writers viewed them in this 
light, explaining that they caused lameness whenever they 
“ touched,” or “ interfered with the back sinews.” What, how- 
ever, did Mr. Apperley, the observant and reflecting “ Nimrod,” 
without pretending to any medical knowledge of them, say about 
splints! — why, that “from splint he had suffered very little. 
He never remembered but one horse out of work from that 
cause*.” Still, is the old notion very prevalent among unprofes- 
sional people, that splints often lame horses; and to the groom 
who thinks so, or to the veterinary surgeon who chooses to 
be of the same opinion, is such doctrine often very acceptable 
and opportune, inasmuch as it serves to help them out of any 
embarrassment they may feel to say for certain whereabouts 
the horse’s lameness is located. Young practitioners ought to be 
extremely wary how they pronounce a horse lame from splint; 
never, indeed, to venture to do so without unquestionable evidence 
that such is really the nature of the case. They will do well to bear 
in mind the following narrative, published in The VETERINA- 
RIAN for 1829, in a paper on the subject of “ Splint” read by Mr. 
Henderson, during the same year, to the Veterinary Medical So- 
ciety : — 
“ Early in the spring of 1827, a Norfolk breeder brought seven 
or eight horses to town for sale. I was requested by a gentleman 
to inspect one of them, of which he had made choice. They were 
a lot of very clever horses, and all got by old Pretender. There 
was one rather remarkable circumstance, — they had all splents, 
but situated on the shin bone, and, as far as regards lameness, they 
were all perfectly sound. I mean to say, not one of them was 
lame ; and, therefore, I considered them sound. I passed the one 
in question (a mare), and she always remained sound, and gave 
great satisfaction. 
“ A few days after this, a gentleman called upon me to ask if 1 
* Veterinarian, vol. x, p. 64. 
