588 
SPLINTS. 
for it is scarcely ever absent in periostitis in other positions. To this must 
be added that inflammation may also be caused by violent tension on the 
other ligaments, which become attached to the inner small metacarpal bone, 
and may lead to disease in the spot in question. For prognosis and treat¬ 
ment, it is, of course, of little importance which view one takes. The most 
important difference is that, according to Havemann’s view, pressure, 
according to Dieckerhoff’s, tension, is the cause of the periostitis. 
In any case we may divide splints into two classes—those due to 
unequal distribution of pressure, and those due to blows. The two 
kinds admit of easy clinical distinction. The first is generally of a 
long shape, and is always on the small metacarpal; not infrequently 
several lie one above the other, having been formed simultaneously or 
soon after one another. Those produced by blows are generally further 
forward and on the large metacarpal, i.e., they appear in front of the 
small metacarpal, are generally of a rounded shape, and are discrete. 
Cicatrices or injuries of the skin cannot always be detected. 
Horses with bad action often strike themselves. The weight is 
irregularly distributed in their joints, and therefore such animals have 
a double disposition towards the production of splints. This is par¬ 
ticularly true of those which turn the toes either outwards or inwards 
excessively, as well as of those which stand with the legs widely 
extended or too close together. Defective shoeing may lead to splint 
formation by its favouring striking and unequal distribution of weight 
in the joints. During military evolutions injuries are often caused by 
striking, by unequal distribution of weight, especially in restive horses, 
and also by the animal being tired or constitutionally weak. Continued 
severe work on stones in large towns favours the production of splints. 
Coarsely-bred animals suffer oftener than well-bred, and the splints 
are usually larger. Inasmuch as defective formation is often a cause 
of their production, the inheritance of a disposition to them can be 
explained without resorting to Didfield’s idea that the drinking-water 
has some influence. 
Many peculiarities of the disease still require explanation, such as 
its simultaneous and exactly symmetrical appearance on the metacarpus 
of both fore legs, even in old horses, and the more frequent appearance 
on the left fore limb. The reports of the Prussian army for 1891 show 
that exostoses occurred twice as often on the left fore limb as on the 
right. It is possible that the frequently performed “right gallop” may 
afford an explanation of this. 
Symptoms and course. (1) Lameness. The pain resulting from 
periostitis produces lameness, which is therefore a regular accompani¬ 
ment of the development of splints. It is seldom absent, but its 
character depends partly on the position, extent, and intensity of the 
process, partly on the work done and on the animal’s sensitiveness. 
