RING-BONE. 217 



to much needless torture in an effort to cure the supposed 

 ring-bone before the trouble was discovered to be somewhere 

 else. The careful practitioner will never make such a 

 mistake. Occasionally a well-developed ring-bone will 

 suddenly make its appearance without any appreciable 

 lameness having ever been manifested, but as a rule lame- 

 ness of a pronounced character is manifested during the 

 period of development. Preceding the appearance of the 

 enlargement when it occurs in a fore extremity, and is 

 situated near the very sensitive structures, the patient steps 

 on his heel, and endeavours to remove all weight from the 

 toe ; and when the ring-bone occurs in a hind extremity 

 the animal steps on his toe, and during the act of progres- 

 sion great care is manifested in bringing forward the foot. 

 The enlargement may be very slight, so slight in some cases 

 that it is only by the closest examination, and a careful 

 comparison of the sound with the unsound limb, that it cau 

 be detected. The enlargement is usually soft. Consider- 

 able heat is also present, and there is more or less lameness, 

 which may be increased by flexing the joint and trotting 

 the animal. 



Treatment. — The treatment of ring-bone is similar to that 

 of spavin. Counter-irritation in some form or other is to be 

 cmploj'ed. If the foot is out of shape endeavour to bring it 

 as nearly into its proper shape as possible. Hot or cold 

 applications should be applied to allay irritation, after 

 which use the firing-iron, as being the best form of counter- 

 irritation. In the treatment of ring-bone all efforts are to 

 be directed towards hastening anchylosis. In some cases 

 neurotomy may be tried, but it is not very often successful. 

 If the parts are fired lightly, apply a vesicant immediately 

 afterward ; if fired deeply, do not apply vesicants for four 

 or five days afterwards. A vesicant, by the way, will not 

 act for some time after firing, as the flesh loses its vitality. 



