The management and treatment of the horse in the stable, field, and ...

In the Stable, Field, and on the Road. 69
proportion of weight than the outer one, hence it is
more liable to injuries and inflammation, consequently
inducing this bony deposit which has been termed
splint. The inner bone supports the entire weight
which is transmitted to one of the small knee bones ; it
is the only support of that bone, while but a portion of
the weight is sustained by the outer splint bone, and
the pressure is divided between it and the cannon bone.
Many smiths, who are but imperfectly acquainted with
their profession, most absurdly elevate the outer heel of
the shoe, which throws an additional weight on the
inner splint bone. Splints very often are the result of a
blow given with the inside of the foot, and when a splint
is suspected, that part of the leg should be rubbed for
three or four days with strong mercurial ointment ;
this
will soften the tumour and make it porous; then it
should be blistered with Mr. Gregory's famed vesico
sudorific, which will speedily remove the splint by
absorption Overreaches are the result of
the horse placing the toe of the hind foot upon the heel
of the fore foot, long hind-legged horses are very guilty
of doing this when jumping into heavy land; they cannot
get their fore feet out of the way soon enough, and the
toe of the hind foot, striking the heel with great force,
sometimes will cut the heel nearly off. If the wound is
large, it is often troublesome. The first thing to do with
an overreach is to wash clean with warm water, examine
carefully and make sure there is no foreign substance in
the wound. If the piece cut down with the foot is nearly
off, and is only of a horny substance, do not hesitate to
cut it off, for it will heal much sooner with it off than