THE NEW POCKET FARRIER. 85 



terns, that generally reaches half round on the fore part, 

 and derives its name from the resemblance it bears to a 

 ring. It often arises from bruises, strains, &c., and, 

 when it comes behind, which is sometimes the case, from 

 the animal's being put frequently upon his haunches 

 while too young, for in that attitude a horse throws the 

 weight of his body as much (or more) upon his pasterns 

 than upon his hocks. 



When a ringbone appears distinctly round the pas- 

 tern, and does not run down the coronet, so as to affect 

 the coffin joint, it is" easily cured ; but if it takes its rise 

 from some strain or affection of the joint itself, or if a 

 callosity is formed under the round ligament that covers 

 the joint, the cure is at best doubtful, and frequently im- 

 practicable, as in this case it too frequently degenerates 

 into a quittor, and forms an ulcer upon the hoof. Those 

 ringbones that appear on colts, &c., will frequently go 

 away of themselves, without any application at all, and 

 when the substance remains, a blister or two will in gen- 

 eral remove it, except, by being let alone too long, it has 

 acquired a great degree of hardness and callosity, in 

 which case it will perhaps require both blistering and 

 firing. 



To ensure the success of the last mentioned operation 

 on ring bones, it should be performed with a much thin- 

 ner instrument than what is commonly made use of for 

 that purpose, and the lines or rases should be made at 

 little more than a quarter of an inch distance, crossing 

 them obliquely ; and when this is done, a mild blister 

 should be applied over the whole, and the horse turned 

 out to grass. 



FISTULA. 



A kind of ulcer, which is long, narrow, and winding, 

 and generally has a callous inside. The seat of a 



