862 
SOCIETY MEETINGS. 
going sound with splints, at the same time we know a great 
many do not. 
Dealers almost without exception claim to their customers 
that a splint is not an unsoundness, and our profession has 
made no effort to enlighten the purchaser upon the subject; in 
fact, we have placed him in a position at the present time more 
bewildering than ever ; we have done this by one veterinarian 
passing the horse without mentioning the splint, or perhaps 
calling it a blemish, while another condemns him outright or 
passes him practically sound. 
In examining an animal with a splint for practical sound¬ 
ness the following factors should be taken into consideration, 
viz.: I, age of the animal; 2, size of the splint; 3, its location ; 
4, class or breed of animal (work required) ; 5, action of animal; 
6, gait of the animal. 
An animal under six years of age should always receive a 
very close examination, all factors being carefully considered, 
and the animal not to receive the benefit of doubt. 
The location of a splint is of the utmost importance in deter¬ 
mining his serviceability ; if situated close to or at the knee he 
should be condemned; if on the posterior border of the rudi¬ 
mentary metacarpal, condemned, as should also the commonly 
called pegged splint, that form which extends across the posterior 
surface of the principal as well as the rudimentary metacarpal 
bones.^ The exceptionally low splint should also receive close 
attention on account of its great tendency to interfere with the 
action of the flexor tendons. The knee splint being condemned 
on account of its tendency to involve that articulation, those on 
the posterior border of the rudimentary metacarpal and the 
pegged splint on account of their interference with the action 
of the flexor tendons. Some practitioners claim that the ten¬ 
dons will adapt themselves to their changed position in a short 
time and the animal go sound, but my experience has been 
otherwise. 
Size .—This also has important bearing upon practical sound¬ 
ness ; an exceptionally large splint should always be regarded 
with suspiciou, immaterial of its location, and unless all other 
factors are exceptionally favorable, should condemn. 
Class or^ Breed .—In harness and saddle horses the purchaser 
should receive the benefit of all doubts, as the work required of 
this class is of the kind likely to cause a recurrence of splint 
lameness, while in the draft horse who is never or seldom asked 
to go off a walk the practitioner can be more lenient. 
