DR. LEGEAR'S STOCK BOOK. 159 



pain; tap upon it and the animal will flinch, and on being 

 trotted out immediately afterwards the lameness is increased. 

 An animal may have very large splints for years and never be 

 lame from them. 



Treatment. Unless a horse is lame from a splint, it is advis- 

 able to let it alone. After a horse has had a splint for several 

 months, it becomes solid bone, and there is no medicine that will 

 take it off without seriously injuring the leg. If the splint 

 is taken in time, before it turns to solid bone, it can be removed 

 by using our Spavin Cure (see Appendix) as directed. If taken 

 in time a splint may be rubbed off by thoroughly rubbing it two 

 or three times a day for several weeks. If the animal is lame 

 nothing more is required to cure him than our Spavin Cure well 

 rubbed in according to directions. If the animal is much lame 

 he should have two or three weeks rest during treatment or. a run 

 at pasture. 



RING-BONE. 



A ring-bone is a bon}^ enlargement extending around the leg 

 just above the foot. They are divided into high and low ring- 

 bones. A low ring-bone is one where the bony enlargement 

 comes down under the hoof and affects the coffin-joint, while a 

 high ring-bone affects the pastern joint, and may even affect the 

 ankle joint. It is a false ring-bone when the bony growth does 

 not come on any of the joints. Ring-bone may come on the 

 front or hind legs, but is oftener seen on the hind legs. 



Causes. The most common cause of this trouble is hard and 

 fast work, especially on rough ground or on hard roads. Im- 

 proper shoeing, blows, kicks, etc., all are causes of ring-bone. 



