318 CHAPTER 40. 



matioii to become absorbed and replaced by bone has been already 

 noticed. 



Side-bones are occasionally found on light horses doing fast work ; 

 but much more often on very heavy horses drawing very heavy loads. 

 The shoes used on these horses usually weigh from 6 to 7 Ib. 



The prevalence of side-bones has often been attributed to high Calkins. 



In London, however, though the hind feet are shod with calkins, and 

 the fore are not, yet side-bones are more frequent in the fore than in the 

 hind feet. 



In the great towns in the north where calkins are used on both fore 

 and hind feet, side-bones are more frequent in the fore than hind feet. 



It would seem, therefore, that calkins are not the cause of side-bones. 



Mr Dollar, V.S., attributes the greater frequency of side-bones on the 

 fore feet to the greater concussion caused by the lifting of the fore feet 

 than on the hind feet in action. 



Side-bones, in common with exostoses in other parts, sometimes have 

 their origin in hereditary predisposition. This is especially the case in 

 coarse-bred horses. 



635. Signs of lameness arising from Side-bones. 



As in other cases where the seat of lameness is in the osseous struc- 

 tures or in the foot, the horse will be more lame on hard than on soft 

 ground. 



There can hardly be said to be any special peculiarity about the lame- 

 ness arising from Side-bones, except a certain degree of stiffness of action. 

 When however the above general indications have been given, the imme- 

 diate seat of disease in the case of Side-bones can always be detected by 

 manipulation. 



636. Treatment. 



When the disease arises from inflammation caused by concussion or 

 accidental wounds, the treatment consists in rest and cold applications. 



A bar shoe, so made as to take the pressure off the inside, or off the 

 outside heel, or off both heels, according to the requirements of the par- 

 ticular case, will also be beneficial. 



It is seldom possible entirely to arrest the process of ossification, when 

 inflammation is once set up in a cartilaginous structure, but by rest we 

 can sometimes limit its extent. If work is continued during the time 

 the Side-bone is forming, a large exostosis may be the result, though 

 such is but rarely the case. 



Side-bones, when once formed, are quite incurable, though in horses 

 with good-shaped feet relief has been afforded by Professor Smith's 

 operation, which consists in two or three longitudinal incisions on each 

 side of the wall, so as to completely divide the horny structure. The 

 resulting expansion adapts itself to the abnormal and hardened projection 

 within. The professor considers prolonged rest necessary, with mild 

 blisters to the coronet, to accelerate the renewal of the horn. 



Horses with Side-bones, though after a time they may become unfit for 

 work on hard roads, may be employed and do good work in agriculture 

 for manv vears. 



