372 



Journal of Agriculture. 



[8 June, 1907. 



there will most likely be a large amount of swelling extending from above 

 the fetlock to the hoof. The causes and treatment of split pastern will 

 be dealt with in the chapter on fractures. The illustrations (Figs. 32 to 35) 

 indicate various directions in which fracture of the long pastern hone {os 

 sufraginis) may occur. 



Ringbone. 



Ringbone is a term applied to a bon\- enlargement {exostosis) around 

 the pastern or above the hoof in front and at the sides. (Figs. 37 and 38.) 

 The enlargement may exist in gradations from a mere roughening on the 

 long pastern bone {os suffraginis) to a mass of bony growth extending all 

 round the pastern, embracing the tendons behind and invohing the pastern 

 joints to a degree causing their complete bony union. Ringbon'- is almost 

 solely confined to the heavier breeds of horses, and to those lighter horses 

 which are coarse-bred and round-boned. The cimdition is as common on 

 the hind as on the fore pastern. 



Fig. 37. I'roiuiiient riuj^bduc (lu out.^iile t iy. 38. .Slij^lil iiuylju;.^., u.i laside of 



of off fore pastern. both jjasterns. — The arrow at knee 



indicates a bony enlargement at seat of 

 " speedy cut." 



It has been the custom in times past to describe two forms of ringbone 

 — true and false, but the division would appear to be superfluous seeing 

 that the so-called false ringbone is nothing more than a natural condition 

 -a somewhat pronounced development of the natural roughenings of the 

 long pastern bone to which the tendons and ligaments are attached. A 

 decision that such roughenings are natural and not bony disease growths 

 can easilv be come tO' if. on comparing the two pasterns, the prominences 

 on each are similar in size, shape and position. 



A more legitimate classification of ringbones is that which di\ides them 

 into high ringbone and low ringbone, according as the enlargement is 

 situated on the long pastern bone or on the short pastern bone {as corona). 

 The enlargement in high ringbone occurs a little below midway between 

 the fetlock and the top of the hoof, while that of low ringbone surrounds 



