316 CHAPTER 40. 



RING-BONE. 



628. Nature and seat of Ring-bone. 



Ring-bone is an exostosis, either on the upper or on the lower pastern 

 bone affecting in the one case the upper pastern joint, or in the other 

 case the lower pastern or coffin joint around the coronet. 



Ring-bone more often affects the hind than the fore fetlocks. The 

 degree of lameness is much greater in the lower than in the upper 

 disease. 



False Ring-bone is an exostosis on the bodies of either of the above 

 bones, not affecting or interfering with the joint. 



629. Causes. 



Ring-bone is generally connected either with weakness and consequent 

 sprain of the fibres of the lower divisions of the suspensory ligament, 

 which are inserted into the anterior part of the coronet bone ; or with 

 sprain of the articular ligaments of that bone ; or it may arise from con- 

 cussion, or from a blow, tread, or other wound, or from any cause pro- 

 ducing undue or unusual strain on the ligaments of or about the fetlock. 



From any of these or such like causes inflammation may be set up in 

 one or other or in both pasterns, and an ossific deposit may be the result. 

 In some cases a predisposition to this disease appears to be hereditary. 



Ring-bone is common in horses with long pasterns, where there is 

 necessarily a tendency to weakness ; and also in animals with unduly 

 short or upright pasterns, in which formation there is a tendency to 

 excessive concussion. 



630. Signs of lameness arising from Ring-bone. 



Lameness arising from Ring-bone (as is usually the case when an 

 osseous structure is affected) is more perceptible on hard than on soft 

 ground. The special peculiarity to be noticed is some stiffness or want 

 of flexion in the fetlock joint, and a consequent snatching up of the foot 

 in action. Some swelling and heat is also in most cases even in the early 

 stage apparent about the fetlock, and in a later stage increased heat will 

 invariably be detected. 



631. Treatment. 



Whatever be the cause,- rest, aided by cold applications, is the pri- 

 mary essential in the treatment. When the active inflammation is 

 reduced, a blister, if the horse continues lame, may, as in other cases of 

 exostosis, be beneficially employed, such as the ointment of biniodide of 

 mercury. 



Concussion, and strain on the ligaments, will both be lessened by 

 keeping the toes short, and still more by turning up the shoes at the toe. 

 Leather under the sole is also useful in diminishing concussion. 



