60 TEEATMENT OF DISEASES 



ness of the parts. The disease is known to occur among horses of 

 " coarse breed," and the more advanced in age such an animal may- 

 be, the more subject is he to this affection ; j^rovided, however, he 

 be of the lymphatic or lazy temperament. 



Various names have been applied to tliis affection; for example, »-•« 

 in Scotland it is known as xceed^ thick-leg, water-farcy, shot-o'grease, 

 &c., &c., — names which throw not the least Light on the nature of the 

 affection. 



Cause of the Malady. — The indirect cause is predisposition, 

 which lurks in breed ; the ordinary exciting cause or causes are, 

 errors in diet, over- work and mismanagement when at work (which 

 signifies exposure to storms, &c., and ill usage,) hard pulls and poor 

 fodder. 



Case of Lymphatitis. — On visiting the patient, I was informed 

 that the disease commenced with a paroxysm — or fit — of shivering, 

 very suddenly. 1 found the animal standing on three legs ; the near 

 hind one — the seat of disease — was flexed and held about twelve 

 inches from the floor. The affected limb was hot, tender and swol- 

 len, and the glands, or lymphatics of the groin, were " corded," or 

 enlarged. On the inner surface of the thigh a number of corded 

 lymphatics, or minute elevations, under the true skin, could be dis- 

 tinctly felt, and on exploring and gently squeezing the same, the 

 patient would suddenly catch up the limb from sheer pain. The 

 pulse was very wiry, and so quick that it was impossible to count 

 the beats. 



This case was treated by means of diuretics and tonics, adminis- 

 tered internally, and the swollen limb was bathed as often with an 

 infusion of plantago major — common plantain. In the course of 

 six days the animal had entirely recovered. 



RINGBONE— ITS NATURE, CAUSE AND TREATMENT. 



Nature of Ringbone. — The term ringbone, signifies a bony en- 

 largement, in the region of the coronet. The ring is formed of 

 osseous incrustations or deposits on the pastern, and sometimes the 

 lateral cartilages are changed into bone ; at other times the disease 

 commences on the articulatory surfaces ; in such case the horse may 

 commence to go lame some time before any enlargement makes its 

 appearance ; the disease is then termed inter-articular • soon, how- 

 ever, the disease spreads, and the usual change in the form of the 

 parts is very perceptible, and the action of one or more joints be- 

 neath the cannon bone is forever destroyed. This condition is known 

 to medical men as anchylisos, (loss of motion,) while that form of 

 ringbone, occurring on the surface of the bones, is called exostosis, 

 (extra gi-owth.) Various osseous enlargements or deposits are found 

 on the coronet and pastern Ijones, varying in shape, size, ttc, and 

 some ])ersons have denominated ihem " cling-fasts ;" and there is no 

 doubt but they do "cling fast." 



As regards the spreading of the disease and its magnitude, that 

 depends on the idiosyncracies of the animal ; it has been noticed that 



