510 THE DISEASES OF THE HORSE 



vaseline, the skin below the blistered }Kjvtion in order to avoid scalding the 

 sound skin with matter from above. To the judgment of the j)rofessional 

 attendant should be left the question of firing in those cases where other 

 means have failed, or from the nature of the exostosis make it probable that 

 they would so fail. Pjro-puncture is the name given to the operation 

 which leaves the minimum of blemish if the actual cautery must be used. Ifc 

 :".s done with an instrument having a number of fine steel points, or else by 

 the insertion at regular intervals of a pointed iron or an aluminium point 

 heated by passing the vapour of benzol through an apparatus designed for the 

 put^pose, and of great utility to the expert, but not to be recommended to 

 the amateur, since it requires a good deal of practice for its efficient use, is 

 very costly, and liable to get out of repair. Line firing, or " diamond," is 

 also adopted with success in many instances, and would appear to have the 

 cfiect claimed by its advocates of binding down the parts, as it were, with a 

 permanent bandage and supj)ort, but the value of an animal so operated 

 upon is, of course, very much lessened, as he will never lose the marks. 



RINGBONE AND SIDEBONE 



These terms, often indifferently used by the horseman, are quite distinct, 

 as affecting different structures. Ringbone, like splint, is a growth of bone 

 upon bone, while sidebone is the conversion of cartilage into bone. 



Ringbone for convenience of description is generally divided into high 

 and low, and first received its appellation from the growth surrounding or 

 nearly surrounding the bones affected. It is called high when growing upon 

 the long pastern (os suffraginis), and low when the short bone (os corona) is 

 afiected. Both may be involved and include the pedal or coffin-bone as well 

 in one mass of bony deposit, uniting them into a common anchylosis and 

 destroying their natural movements. 



The fore-limbs are more prone to this disease than the hind, but any or 

 all may be affected. Heavy draught-horses are such frequent subjects of 

 sidebone (ossification of the lateral cartilage) that it is probable in time to 

 come it will have to be no longer considered as a cause of unsoundness, but 

 an example of evolution. 



Symptoms. — Lameness as a rule accompanies the formation of ringbone, 

 but in many heavy animals used only at a walking pace a considerable 

 deposit often takes place without being observed, until some unlucky twist 

 or slip excites active inflammation, and calls attention to the cause. With 

 light horses the concussion produced by faster paces is pretty sure to produce 

 early lameness, the animal as a rule failing in his work rather than showing 

 a "stable" lameness. Careful manipulation will generally demonstrate the 

 seat of pain, and eai-ly treatment is hopeful. 



Treatment of ringljone is very similar to that of splint, but more time 

 should be allowed for rest before putting the animal to work. Care should 

 be taken to avoid irritating the hollow of the heel by filling it first with 

 lard before using a blister. 



Sidebone. — The lateral cartilages described elsewhere as prolongations of 

 the pedal-bone should in a sound horse yield to the pressure of the thumb, 

 and in the very young animal be easily compressed towards the heel, but in 



