SOCIETY MEETINGS. 
213 
a limited amount of effusion. Later on a bony exostosis appears on the 
site of the periostitis. During the stage of effusion lameness is present. 
As soon as the exostosis appears, lameness disappears. A formed 
splint then, that is a matured, a developed splint, a splint that is clearly 
apparent and could be detected by any novice, rarely causes lameness. 
I say rarely, because I recognize the fact that we sometimes find a splint 
of very considerable extent propped up against the lower row of bones 
of the knee, which may interfere with the action of the joint or set up a 
localized synovitis. This is an instance in which a formed or mature 
splint produces lameness. When, however, a splint is placed below the 
line of the carpal articulation and having no relation with it, no matter 
whether it involves the lateral aspect of the metacarpal bone, the furrow 
between the large and small metacarpal bones, or the lateral aspect of 
the small metacarpal bone, I make the statement that it is harmless 
and will not give rise to lameness. Even in these cases involving the 
posterior border of the small metacarpal bone and slightly bending over 
the tendon, in my opinion they rarely interfere with the usefulness of 
the animal, except during the stage of their development. When I 
examine a horse for soundness and a splint of considerable dimensions 
is present on the inner aspect of the metacarpal region, say midway be¬ 
tween the fetlock and knee, the purchaser generally puts the question,— 
“ Will the horse get lame from that splint ? ” If I find that the horse’s 
action is clean and there is no tendency to interfere with the growth, 
during motion, I unhesitatingly say, no. Sometimes splint lameness 
afterwards develops in that particular limb, but when a careful exam¬ 
ination is made, the developing splint will be usually found to affect 
the OUTSIDE of the region of the canon bone rather than the inside. In 
my opinion horses should be rejected that have developed splints close 
up to the knee, but we can safely overlook those exostoses when further 
down. There are many other points connected with the location of the 
splint and its relation to soundness, such, for instance, as splints 
located in the channel between the small and large metacarpal bones, 
the consideration of which I hope will be brought out during the dis¬ 
cussion which will follow. Regarding 
Thickejiings or Sprains of Tendons, and suspensory and check liga¬ 
ments, it may be stated broadly that such conditions give rise to un¬ 
soundness, A thickened tendon or ligament, means a shortened tendon 
or ligament, owing to organized effusion in the interfibrous structure, 
and it is plain that a horse with a shortened tendon or ligament cannot 
be as useful as one in the normal condition. In deciding as to whether 
a thickening involves the fibres of the tendon, or the paratendineum, 
one must depend upon the amount of flexion present in the limb while 
in the quiescent state, upon the action of the animal during movement 
and upon digital manipulation of the part. Thickness in this region 
should be always looked upon with suspicion. Remarks made would 
apply to the condition known as bowed tendon. In race-horse practice, 
where sprains of tendons and ligaments are common and horses are con¬ 
tinuously changing hands, we are often called upon to give an opinion 
on the seriousness of thicknesses affecting these tendons and ligaments. 
Thicknesses, however slight or insignificant, unless they are confined to 
the paratendineum, are very serious in these animals. In my opinion 
strain and thickening of the inferior carpal or check ligament is the most 
