828 



CYCLOPEDIA OF LIVE STOCK AND COMPLETE STOCK DOCTOR. 



DIAGRAM. 



Showing Pastern 

 and Pedal Bone of 

 a horse affected 

 with Severe Ring- 

 bone. 



t. The joint between 

 the pastern bones, 

 showing the 

 groove in which 

 the tendon of the 

 extensor p e d 



character, that is, makes bone, so when an effusion is thrown out it be- 

 comes organized or forms i)ai't of the living system, 

 and ossifies, the size of the deposit depending upon the 

 extent of the inflammation. There is a theory among 

 scientific men, that liability to throw out bony enlarge- 

 ments, especially around joints, is hereditary in the form 

 of an ossific diathesis, which is borne out hy actual eX' 

 perience in breeding ; marcs or stallions affected ^vith 

 spavin, ring-bone, splint, enlarged knees, etc., are apt 

 to transmit them to the offspring. We frequently see 

 foals two months old with ring-bones, and sometimes 

 with spavins and curbs, making it very convenient for 

 dealers to excuse their presence by saying the colt was 

 foaled so, and that it never will hurt him. Which may 

 be true enough in one sense, for the affected parts be- 

 come solidly anchylosed, and as strong as any other part, 

 muscle reposes. and pcrhaps stronger, for the extra deposit acts as a sup- 



*'tween^ Uie" lower ^Qi't to the wcak part ; the part being naturally weak, in- 



pastern bone and I i t . . „„ 



the bone of the t^erited from one of the parents, the deposit is an effort 

 of nature to strengthen it. Therefore, the practice of breeding from 

 stallions or mares that are unsound from any bony deposit, except those 

 caused by some known accident, is to be most emphatically condemned. 

 How to know it. — ^In the acute stage, (when it is beginning to grow) 

 there will be lameness that works off with, exercise ; and also soreness, 

 heat and swellino- when examined carefully with the hand. When it has 

 run on to the second stage, and become hardened into bone, it will be felt 

 around the pastern joints in lumps, or in a ring running clear around the 

 pastern. Or it may be spread over the surface of the bone as if plastered on. 

 Nature may effect a cure by anchjlosing the joint, which will stop the 

 lameness, but there will be a certain stiffness always ; or ulceration of the 

 heads of the bones may take place and cause permanent lameness. As 

 lono- as it is in the stage in which the lameness works off with exercise, 

 there is a chance of curing it by stiffening the joint. But when there 

 is permanent lameness the chances of a cure are small, al- 

 thouo-h it is best to try, and repeat the trial too. 



What to do. — In the first stage apply hot baths, and fol- 

 low them with the cooling lotion, No. 12, three or four times 

 a day till all active inflammation is gone ; then blister with 

 Nos. 9 and 10, mixed. After the first blister has healed, 

 repeat it. But when the ringbone will not yield to this 

 treament and goes on increasing in size, hardness and lameness 

 or when it has reached the second stage without treatment, 

 there is nothing so effectual as the actual cautery (finng 

 is applied in lines running up and down parallel with each 



FOOT OF A 

 HORSE. 



Affected with 

 ringbonC; The 

 pastern joints 

 being entirely 

 stiffened. 



iro***. ) It 



