216 THE PRACTICE OF VKTERINARY MEDICKNE. 



those affecting the articulations. An enlargement may appear 

 as a result of kicks, blows, etc., but if none of the articula- 

 tions are involved it by no means constitutes a serious con- 

 dition. Ring-bone may occur in a fore or a hind limb, but 

 probably occurs with greatest frequency in the hind limbs. 



Pathologij. — The condition generally arises from an injury 

 which causes an inflammatory action to take place in the 

 cancellated tissue of the bone. The inflammation extends 

 to and destroys the articular lamella, after which destruc- 

 tion of the articular cartilage takes place, the tendency being 

 to complete destruction of the joint. Nature, in her efforts 

 to eflect a cure, throws out an exudate, which undergoes 

 ossification. The joint becomes obliterated, the bones 

 formerly composing it gradually unite, anchylosis becomes 

 complete, and all pain and irritation cease. 



Causes. — The causes of ringbone may be said to be pre- 

 disposing or constitutional, and exciting. Violent crosses 

 are' productive of this, as of some other conditions, as, for 

 instance, a thorough-bred horse being allowed to serve a 

 number of common heavy draught mares, or a heavy coarsely- 

 bred horse put to a number of light mares, the progeny of 

 such crosses frequently being troubled with ring-bone, 

 spavin, etc. Hard work is probably the most prolific of 

 all exciting causes, especially in localities where the roads 

 are very hard. Improper shoeing, blows, kicks, etc., all 

 operate as causes of ring-bone. In cases where an animal 

 receives a puncture in the foot, or while suffering from lym- 

 jjhangitis, etc., is compelled to rest upon the sound limb for 

 a week or ten days, it is not uncommon for a spavin or a 

 ring-bone to result. Horses of certain conformation, as those 

 with upright pasterns, are predisposed. 



t^umptoms. — The natural enlargement of the part is some- 

 times mistaken for a ring-bone by a careless or ignorant 

 person, and in consequence many a poor horse has been put 



