374 



Journal of Agriculture. 



[8 June, 1907. 



Symptoms.— -Lamepess mav Ije present l>efore there are any objective 

 i,igns of ringbone such as swelUng or bonv enlargement. The cause of 

 (he pain in such cases is the inflammation which is going on, and which 

 will ultimately result in the formation of a bony deposit. It may b • 

 from a month to as long as three months before the outgrowth of bone has 

 developed to a size appreciable to the touch, and the slower i. is in de- 

 veloping the less is the amount of heat and tenderness of the part, and the 



)f ]iastern joint. 



g'"''ater therefore the difficult\ of diagnosis. When standing, the heel is 

 slightly raised, and the toe rests on the ground, but during progression 

 the heel is brought to the ground first, and there is a stiffness about the 

 mo\ement of the pastern. The lameness is always worse on hard ground 

 and usually increases with exercise. Forcible bending of the pastern +0 

 the extreme limit and sudden twisting of the hoof on the pastern generalb 

 cause pair, evinced b\' flinrhing. Pain is also often evinced on thumb 



and 

 bones 



Fit 



43. 'I'vpiral a(l\anced 

 ringbone. 



.:; _'4. T-ong and short 

 pastern bones with rinji 

 bone. 



Fig. 42. Fon 

 short pastern 

 — uormaL 



pressure being applied at the seat of ringl)one. When fully formed a 

 inig()one m.av f)e easily felt and seen, and during the formation there mav 

 be more or less soft swelling and heat due to increased vascularity. 

 Along with any or all of the above signs absence of other diseases or in- 

 juries which cause the horse toi go upon the heel — such as laminitis, sanil- 

 crack, and .seedy toe — is of assistance in enabling the conclusion to ])e 

 arri\-ed at that the horse is probably going to throw a ringbone. 



