A HORSE "DISHING," OR CARRYING THE
FRONT LEG OUTWARD, WHEN ON THE TROT.
The cause of such failing action very often can only be guessed at. To detect a fully-developed splint, stand at the side of the animal's leg and grasp the posterior part of the shin; then, by running the thumb down on one side and the fingers on the other, in the groove formed by the junction of the two small splint-bones with the cannon-bone, the examiner may recognize enlargement or feel heat, should either exist. By making pressure where the heat or swelling is perceived, he may cause the leg to be snatched up. Should nothing result from this trial, the animal is trotted gently up and its action is observed. Horses with splints, when lame, generally "dish" or turn the leg outward, when it is raised from the ground. That is done because the bending of the limb pressed the splint-bone downward, the outward carriage of the shin being an endeavor to lessen the pain which attends upon the natural action.
Should no "dishing" be remarked, next observe whether the leg is fully flexed or advanced; and, after the hints thus received, the investigation may be resumed with a better prospect of success.
The treatment of splint is conveyed in the old maxim, "time and patience." Rest will do more than physic. A man, therefore, may as well let his horse rest in his own stable, as pay for rest, lodging, and useless treatment in another place. Splints, moreover, if only subjected to rest, accompanied with liberal feeding, are likely the sooner to attain their maximum magnitude. If they are interfered with under the pretense of treatment, the irritation may cause them to increase; thus the proprietor, through his impatience, may purchase an injury.
When they are acutely painful, a poultice, on which one drachm of opium and one drachm of camphor is sprinkled, will frequently afford relief. They may also, at such times, be rubbed with a drachm of chloroform combined with two drachms of camphorated oil. These measures, however simple, aim at mitigating the present symptoms—they do not even infer the possibility of curing the disease. Periostoteomy pretended to do something of that sort; but has failed so often, it is now seldom recommended by practiced veterinarians.
When, however, a particle of the bone interferes with a tendon, the lameness is so acute that often the choice lies between cure and death; for some, even of present proprietors, scorn to sell a favorite horse which has become sick in their service. In these cases, it is lawful to open the skin, and with a fine saw, a chisel or a sharp knife, to remove the offending growth; after the operation, leave the skin open and dress the wound with a lotion made of chloride of zinc one grain, to water one ounce. This application has the great merit of keeping down granulations; but employ nothing irritating to the bone, or the result may be worse than the injury which has been removed.
Splints sometimes occur on the outer side of the hind leg; there, however, they are little thought of. The hind leg propels the horse, but does not support its body; therefore, splints of this last sort are less unpleasant to the rider. The hind leg, not bearing much weight, splints, when situated on that member, do not occasion very severe lameness, and the enlargement being located upon the outside of the shin, is thereby removed from the possibility of being struck by the opposite hoof. For these reasons, splints of the foregoing nature are considered trifles, and are rarely esteemed worthy of much notice.
To check the further enlargement of a splint with a fair chance of also removing the deformity—though with no hope of releasing the parts locked together by bony union—employ the ointment already recommended for spavin:—
| Iodide of lead | One ounce. |
| Simple ointment | Eight ounces. |
| Mix, and apply with friction thrice daily. |