The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-03-06
ssSplints. ="

Bvmany persons splints are regarded,
after a horse has attained certain age,
as q necessitv to his existence, and
though there is deal of truth in the
observation that scarcely one horse at
five years old is unaffected, yet it is not
necessarily true. Splints are to be
found among all classes of horse-fesh,
but the question of their presence. in
every instance is not proved by practI-
| cal experience, and, undoubtedly, their
| existence is materially controlled by
! the circumstances under which the ami
NAL has been reared and the manage
ment he il subjected to. both before
and after being put to work.
Nature anil Cduses.-A splint is a
| conversion of the tibrous material
uniting the cannon-bone and plnt-bones
into bone Generally there is small
bony outgrowth present with it, but
the condition may exist without such
evidence. Splint in the fore legs is
more frequently found on the inne;
side, being more under the center "a
| gravity, and the limbs having a greater
| liability to conclusion. In the hind
legs it is generally on the other side,
and here is more often produced by
blow or kick. Splints found on the
limbs of aged horses are, as rule, oil
but little importance, but those on ami
mails three or four years old are very
Questionable. A large splint is more
serious than a small one, owing to the
liability of the animal striking with
the other Leo when in action. Position,
too, carries deal of weight; when far
back on the leg it il - great drawback
as here it usually interfereS to some eN-
tent with the working OF the suspensory
lipament. When close under the ruse
it also frequently hinders the proper
flexing of the joint, and in this place Is
more likely to be struck by the oppo
site leg; when situated on the out
side of the limb splint is seldom OF
any consequence. When the forma-
ton of splin; is accompanied by an
" outgrowth of hone and the intlamma-
tory action in the part is got rid OF
through the case being properly
treated, the probability is that The out
growth will become partially if not
wholly absorbed; but a splint when
once formed. always e,ists, whether
there be any decrease or not in Its size.
Hereditary predi position has undouot
edly much influence in the case OF
: splints. OF other causes, conclusion l.
: the main, and injury from external vlo-
lence.
SYMPTOMS. -LameneSs of the anima!
l will draw attention to the limb, and or
J passing the hand down the groove, be-
l tween the cannon and splint bones. IN
enlargement WIN be felt; when there
are two or three little elevations in q
line, it is termed chain splint. In
l Young horses the lameness, whilst the
, splint is forming, is most marked: 1t Is
evinced when the weight of the body il
4 thrown On the limb, and just SO much
2 whether the horse is run on soft or hard
d; ground. The leg. particularly when
! she suspeusory ligament is interfered
$ with. is brought W tn sn outward move
9 mens to the ground, and often there i;
$ q d:sihelrnatioa of tleXion of the knee
e to its fullest extent. There is pain or
pressure Of the part where the sp!lnt l:
forming, md more heat in that Lee thar
!, the other. s
Treatment, in young
I horses, unless the lameness is very
acute, the throwing out of work, feed
l00 Oh IOh uiCb pit " W.
J baudage will be sufficient In the more
severe cases. and the patient is older
/ he should be well prepared for an
. have dose of physic, followed by ;
: low. succulent diet. The leg should b'
[ well fomented and warm wet bandag'
: applied and kept. continually wet
= Cooling lotions are good aids. As soor
f as the heat of the leg is sufficiently re
b, duced, blistering is nece> sary, and per
;, haps nothing IS better than the applica
. ton of ointment of biniodide OF mercury
: for three or four days consecutively, til
i a good scurf is raised. In the cours'
;, of from two 10 foHr weeks, as 4 genera
5 rule, the horse viii be tit for use again
r Where the splint is large and the lame
:, ness obstinate, setoning, or that form
), firing knOwa as pyro punctuation. /
e adopted. In The most severe cases tn
: operation at periosteotomy is prac
: ticed. In general way, however
S these latter operations are not irequi
n site. and for the former eases nothin:
). more than has already been spoken
n is necessary. -Dr. Smith an FdrDs an
r Home. LLls UUU
= john T. Raymond. who is an in
+ We crate gamester. tried to match some
: body for his brou ,ha,n and 7hOrs
t. against a one thousand dollar bill No
!. finding any matches he "a He'd the turn
out at sixty chances at twenty five'dol
lars each. At the beginning of his ses
a son last year he won pair of horse
" and a set of harness by matching
: fcoin.A.N. r. Eerald n EGt{EskSE