DISEASES OF THE FEET 263 



Side-bone is a hardening of the cartilage just above 

 the coronet near the heels. In its natural state this 

 cartilage yields very slightly to the pressure of the 

 hand. When it becomes hard and ossified it is a side- 

 bone. 



Ring-bone is more like a spavin, being a deposit of 

 bone, produced by inflammation, on one or both of the 

 pastern bones. It occurs in both fore and hind legs, 

 but more frequently in the hind legs. In one case, that 

 of side-bone, the cartilage turns to bone; in the other 

 case, that of ring-bone, there is a deposit of bone. 

 There may be no enlargement with side-bone, but there 

 must be with ring-bone; and in bad, long-standing cases 

 of both diseases, there is often great enlargement, 

 amounting to a distortion of the foot. 



The treatment in both cases is the same : first, the 

 inflammation and fever should be allayed either by 

 soaking in hot water, or by applying swabs or bandages 

 kept wet with cold water; and this may be followed by 

 a blister, and complete rest. 



Bar shoes should be used in cases of side-bone or 

 ring-bone, and with ring-bone, a "roller-motion" toe 

 should be employed, and the hoof should be thinned 

 near the coronet. 



Nerving is often performed in cases of side-bone 

 and ring-bone. 



