424 
LAMENESS IN HORSES. 
arises from a vitiated constitution, produced by the venereal poison.” 
Add to which, they are notoriously different in intrinsic nature. 
Should a Horse really be lame from Splint, we 
may expect to find that the splint and the lameness have both 
proved simultaneous, or thereabouts, in their appearance. An old 
splint is not likely to be the occasion of a new lameness; neither 
is it probable that the lameness should much precede the splint. 
The tumour will, on inquiry, most likely turn out to have been a 
discovery not made until the lameness was evinced ; and, if felt or 
pressed with the fingers, it will prove warm, — hot even in com- 
parison with the surrounding skin, and the horse will manifest 
tenderness in it, by flinching or catching up his leg every time the 
tumour is pressed upon. With symptoms such as these present, 
and in the absence of any other palpable cause for the lameness, we 
may fairly ascribe it to the pain of the splint. 
It has already been stated that the lameness arising from splint 
is referrible to one of two causes, or to both such causes ; either to 
the tension the exostosis occasions to the periosteum enveloping it, 
or to the general inflammatory condition of the tumour, and of the 
periosteum perhaps as well. As to the alleged other cause, viz., that of 
the splint “touching” or “interfering with the back sinew,” for our 
own part we must confess our lack of observation confirmatory of 
this point : we do not remember ever to have seen such a case ; 
and we certainly, until one shall actually come under notice, must 
withhold our belief in its occurrence. 
Cutting may be the Consequence of Splint; and this 
might occasion lameness from time to time almost or quite equal 
to that which arises from speedy-cut. A horse who has never cut 
before may do so from having thrown out a splint. For such an 
evil the remedy assuredly would be the immediate removal of the 
splint by operation. 
Is a Horse having Splint to be regarded as unsound 1 
— Were this question to be answered in the affirmative, there would 
be, we are afraid, remaining but few horses that could be called 
sound after the completion of their adult period of life. That a 
horse going lame in consequence of splint, or that cuts from splint 
so as to occasion himself lameness, is unsound there can be no 
doubt whatever. Unless, however, one or other of these ill conse- 
quences could be shewn to result, no importance whatever need be 
attached to the presence of splint. It is possible, as now and then 
indeed happens, that splint may, from its magnitude and conspicu- 
ous situation, amount to an eye-sore or blemish : this might some- 
what disturb the question of soundness, though we very much 
doubt, after all, that such case of magnitude simply could be con- 
strued as equivalent to unsoundness. 
