RINGBONE. 



95$ 



the disease proceeds to the cartilages of the foot, and to the union Deiween 

 the lower pastern, and t*ie coffin and navicular bones ; and the motion of 

 these parts likewise is impeded or lost, and the whole of this part of the foot 

 becomes one mass of spongy bone. From this disposition to spread, (and 

 at first round the pastern-joint, which is situated just above the coronet,) 

 this disease has acquired the name of ringbone. 



CUT OF THE LEG. 



This cut will show the situation and 

 appearance of this and some other 

 defects of the fore-leg. a will represent 

 the capped hock or enlargement of 

 the joint of the elbow ; b the tying-in 

 of the leg below the knee ; c the 

 most frequent situation of splint on the 

 side of the shank-bone, and not pro- 

 ducing lameness after its first formation, 

 because it does not interfere with the 

 motion of the knee, or injure the sus- 

 pensory ligament, d is the situation 

 and appearance of the enlargement 

 accompanying sprain of the back-sin- 

 ews. This, however, is an aggravated 

 case ; and the sprain may be great, and 

 the lameness distressing, without all this 

 swelling, e is the place of wind-gall. 

 f gives the appearance of ring-bone, 

 when it first appears on the side of the 

 pastern, about the joint, and where 

 there is naturally some prominence of 

 bone ; ^ is the situation of sand-crack 

 in the fore-leg. h the situation of the 

 moUenders. 



Ringbone is one of the most serious 

 lamenesses with which the horse can be 

 afflicted. It is unsoundness when ex- 

 isting in the slightest degree, for the 

 lateral enlargement may speedily ex- 

 tend ; and when the body deposit begins 

 to spread, the disease is incurable. 



The fore-legs, when viewed in front, 

 should be widest at the chest, and 

 should gradually approach each other 

 as we descend towards the fetlock. 

 The degree of width must depend on 

 ^the purposes for which the horse is 

 wanted. The legs of a heavy draught- 

 horse can scarcely be too far apart. 

 His rounded chest enables him to throw 

 more weight into the collar; and being 

 seldom, if ever, required for speed, he 

 wants not that occasionally increased 

 expansion of chest which the circular 

 form is not calculated to give. A 



