CHAPTEK XI. 



DISEASES OF BONE AND DETECTION OF LAMENESS. 



SIDEBONES. 

 (Plate XVIII, Fig. 1.) 



Sidebone is an ossification (turning into bone) of the lateral 

 cartilage. Horses with flat feet and weak quarters are predis- 

 posed to this disease. 



Symptoms. — A hard, unyielding condition of the lateral 

 cartilage, with or without lameness. 



Treatment. — If the horse is lame the first step is to remove 

 the shoe and level the foot ; then let the horse stand in a tub of 

 cold water for several hours a day, or apply, around the coronet, 

 swabs kept wet with cold water. As soon as the fever has dis- 

 appeared clip off the hair over the sidebones and blister with 

 this ointment : Biniodide of mercury 1 part, cosmoline 5 parts; 

 mix thoroughly and rub in for ten minutes. Tie up the horse's 

 head so that he can not reach the blistered part with his lips 

 and keep him in this position for twenty-four to forty-eight 

 hours. Then wash off the blister, using warm water and castile 

 soap. The washing must be repeated every day until all the 

 scabs formed by the blister have been removed. During this 

 time keep the horse standing quietly in a clean and level stall. 

 If after ten days he has not improved, firing, followed by a long 

 period of rest, may prove beneficial. 



RINGBONE. 



(Plate XVIII, Fig. 2.) 



Ringbone is a bony enlargement, more or less prominent, situ- 

 ated upon either the os suffraginis or os coronse, and it may also 

 involve the articular cartilages. 



Causes. — Blows, sprains, jumping, fast work on hard roads, 

 and faulty conformation. 



Symptoms. — Lameness is usually the first symptom, and di- 

 agnosis is assisted by palpation (feeling) and comparison of 

 the two legs. The enlargement is hard, painless on pressure, 

 and the skin covering is movable. 



(98) 



