RING-BONE. 315 



CHAPTER 40. 



SORE SHINS, RING-BONE, AND OSSIFIED CARTILAGES. 



626. SOEE SHINS. Nature and causes of Sore shins. 627. Treat- 

 ment. 628. RING-BONE. Nature and seat. 629. Causes. 630. Signs 

 of lameness arising from Ring-bone. 631. Treatment. 632. After-effects. 

 633. OSSIFIED CARTILAGES. Nature and seat. 634. Causes. 635. 

 Signs of lameness arising from Ossified Cartilages. 636. Treatment. 



SORE SHINS. 



626. Nature and Causes of Sore Shins. 



The disease known as Sore shins is primarily inflammation of the 

 periosteum of the anterior portion of the metacarpal bones from the knee 

 to the fetlock. It arises from the concussion produced by fast work. 

 Hence it is common in young 1 race-horses, whose frames are not fully 

 fonned and consolidated. They not only do very fast work, but they 

 often do it at a season of the year when the ground is apt to be hard. 



After a time, from inflammation of the periosteum, ossifio matter is 

 thrown out, which forms in. small nodules or in some instances in thin 

 layers on the surface of the bones. 



627. Treatment. 



The treatment in the early stage consists in rest, aided by cold water 

 irrigation at once. In cases where the pain is excessive the application 

 of a decoction of poppy heads or belladonna will be found to have a sooth- 

 ing effect. If the disease is taken in time, these means will probably be 

 sufficient to allay the inflammation, and the horse may shortly resume 

 his work. 



As a matter of fact, though it is difficult to account for it in theory, it 

 is generally safe, and often marvellously beneficial in the result, to apply 

 a mild blister at once over the parts affected, without waiting until the 

 active inflammation is reduced. If however work be persisted in, ossific 

 matter will form. The horse must then be laid up, and as soon as the 

 inflammation has been reduced by the usual means, a blister must be 

 applied over the parts, which will in most cases arrest the further pro- 

 gress of the disease. 



The occurrence of Sore shins is an indication, either that the trainer 

 has unduly forced the horse in his work, or that his legs are not fit for 

 fast work. 



