710 THE PEOPLE'S FARM AND STOCK CYCLOPEDIA. 



SYMPTOMS. If the growth has attained sufficient size, it is 

 easily seen or felt. It often attains a considerable size without 

 any lameness, while in other cases the lameness is severe with 

 but a very small growth. An animal with a splint may walk 

 without any lameness, but if watched closely, the affected leg- 

 can be seen carried forward less bent than the sound one. When 

 he is trotted the lameness is very plain; he drops the body 

 when the weight is thrown on the sound leg, and elevates the 

 body when the weight is thrown on the affected leg. By rub- 

 bing the leg with the hand, an enlargement may be felt, and 

 pressure on the enlargement causes pain. Or, if you can not 

 feel it, you may detect the tenderness by gently tapping the leg 

 with a small stick. 



TREATMENT. Rest the animal, and apply cold water for an 

 hour at a time, three or four times a day, for two or three days, 

 and then blister with biniodide of mercury. (See Index.) A 

 splint seldom does harm, unless it is close to the joint. 



Ringbone is a bony growth or enlargement near the pastern- 

 joint. If it does not affect the joint, it is not a serious trouble. 

 But if it does, a complete stiffening of the joint often results. 



CAUSES. Breeding colts from parents that have ringbones ; 

 hard or fast work ; or any injury to one leg causing the other 

 to bear the weight intended to be borne by both ; this will pro- 

 duce ringbone on the sound limb. Another prolific source of 

 ringbones is allowing sucking colts to follow their mothers when 

 at work. 



SYMPTOMS. Lameness, which in most cases precedes the en- 

 largement. Sometimes heat and tenderness can be detected 

 just above the hoof; and bending the pastern-joint may cause 

 pain. If it affects the ospedis the bone inside of the hoof 

 the weight will be thrown on the heel as in laminitis, and in 

 this last case the hoof tends to grow in rings, and become long 

 at the toe. 



TREATMENT. If the foot has grown out of shape, get it into 

 shape by properly trimming it ; then bathe in hot or cold water 

 until the heat and tenderness partly subside ; then blister with 

 biniodide of mercury. (See Blistering.) 



