276 



THE VETERINARY SCIENCE 



joint is gone, and there is not quite as free action as before 

 the leg was affected, but the horse will be very useful for 

 years after. In order to obtain a really clear idea of this, 

 examine a cured ringbone, after the horse dies. An idea of 

 how the bones unite may be clearly obtained in this manner. 

 In all cases first pare the foot down to its natural shape, and 

 cut the toe off very short and keep it cut short afterward. 

 This throws the strain off the joint. Cut the hair, if long, off 

 the enlargement and blister with 



Biniodide of Mercury 2 drams. 



Vaseline or Lard 1 ounce. 



Mix well together. This is sufficient to blister an 

 ordinary ringbone two or three times. Apply one-third of 

 the blister and rub in thoroughly — the more you rub the 

 better it will work — and grease the third day after blistering. 

 Continue blistering every four weeks until cured, following 

 the same directions as before. Each time before blistering, 

 wash the parts with warm water and soap. If, in the course 

 of a few months, this does not help him, "fire" him. Use the 



same kind of firing iron as that used in 



firing a spavin. Place a twitch on his 



nose. While one of the front legs is 



held up, burn all around the ringbone 



in streaks — running up and down — 



three-quarters of an inch apart. (See 



Fig. 43.) Don't burn too severely, only 



enough to leave a white seam after the 



iron. In doing this take time and do 



not bear heavily on the iron. After fir- 

 ing allow it to remain for six days and 



blister the same as above mentioned, 



following the same directions. It may 



be necessary to cast him during this 



operation. Do not become discouraged 



if not better immediately, as it gener- 

 ally takes from six months to a year, 



and even longer in bad cases to effect a 



cure. Treat a colt exactly the same 



only not quite so severely, varying 



treatment according to the size. 



6. Bone Spavin. Fi s 



A spavin is a disease affecting the 

 bones of the hock joint, which generally results in a bon) 



-Method of "Firing" 

 a Ringbone. 



