ON SPLINTS. 
545 
than the inner, which will assist in bringing the limb into that 
direction in which the animal evidently strives to place it, as is 
sufficiently shewn by the peculiar wearing of the shoe. 
An outside splint, when independent of an inner one, may be 
treated in the reverse manner ; and even if there is one on the 
inside, the outer one may be relieved by counter-irritants and 
rest; but if exercise is allowed, all chance is gone, and inflam¬ 
mation will be excited in the inner ligament, by throwing- all the 
weight on the corresponding bone. In the cure of this disease, 
suspension from work is of essential importance. 
I have said that counter-irritants of all kinds are of service ; 
but there is none that will surpass the actual cautery. The com¬ 
mon blister is an excellent application ; and, if the horse is not 
sound, the blister may be repeated with beneficial effects. 
As a precaution, before putting a horse to work that has become 
sound, or apparently so, from a splint, I would recommend walk¬ 
ing exercise for a space of time to be judged of by the circum¬ 
stances of the case. 
Having said so much, and not adverted to the notions of for¬ 
mer authors, I think it my duty to explain why I have not 
entertained their theories,—that splints arise exclusively from the 
pressure of the os trapezoides upon the inner metacarpal bone, 
and that it is near the centre of the body from which it must 
receive more weight than its due. 
The causes of splints are the same that I have been nam¬ 
ing, and on which I found my argument. 
The os trapezoides articulates with the inner metacarpal bone 
by a flat surface, or nearly so ; from this we gain nothing: its 
superior surface is rounded, and has a corresponding concavity 
in the inferior and posterior articulating surface of the os sca- 
phoides. This form of articulation is to admit of flexion and 
extension; and from what I have proved, or think I have done, 
that the hinge form of articulation in the carpus conveys none of 
the weight down the limb in the extended position. 
There is another fact not to be passed unnoticed, viz. the 
attachment of this bone with the os magnum, which is such as 
to permit very little motion, and especially downwards. This 
being the case, how can this ligament escape while one of not 
less dimensions is injured ? 
I wonder in what way some persons can possibly account for 
the anatomy of the uniting ligament being like an X. For this 
purpose, one direction of fibres would have been all that was 
required. 
The next part I am to scrutinize is the weight coming down 
the inside of the leg. I shall, for illustration, select a horse that 
