RIXG-BONE. 181 



parents. Horses having a rheumatic constitution, such as are 

 liable to founder, are predisposed to ring-bone; for it is no less 

 true among horses than among men, that such constitutions are 

 peculiarly liable to ossifications, or deposits of bone in and 

 about other parts. 



Form is another thing to be taken into account. An upright 

 pastern is much more likely to be affected vrith ring-bone than 

 an oblique one, for the weight is thrown more directly on the 

 top of the bones, and jars or concussions are very liable to 

 be the result. Upright pasterns lose the advantage of that 

 elasticity or spring, which nature intended in making consider- 

 able oblicpiity, or slant, the type or pattern. As we have sev- 

 eral times had occasion to remark the ingenious contrivances of 

 nature to prevent concussion, so we may here say that in the 

 long, oblique pastern, this object seems to be peculiarly accom- 

 plished; whereas, in the short, upright one, it is as signally 

 defeated. 



The exciting causes, or such as are usually said to produce 

 ring-bone, are severe concussions or jars to the pastern-bones, 

 which excite inflammation in the covering of the bone or the 

 ligaments; running on hard ground, with improper weight; 

 jumping, and lighting on hard substances; striking the pas- 

 terns against any thing; and traveling through thick, stiff mud, 

 where the feet stick. 



The hind pasterns are said to be more liable to ring-bone 

 than the fore ones; the reason assigned for this is, that they 

 are more liable to concussions than the fore ones, from the 

 weight thrown on them in propelling. But it appears to me 

 that their greater obliquity quite compensates for this disadvan- 

 tage. If it is the case, I would rather attribute it to their 

 greater liability to be struck against objects, on the philosophy 

 of the Irishman, who had but one pair of shoes for his horse, 

 and wanted them put on behind, for, "it was a dale of a poor 

 horse that could not see where to set his fore-feet." 



Treatment. — The same object is to be sought to be accom- 



