882 RING-BONE. 



Traumatic ring-bone, consequent on local inflammation near the 

 coronet -joint, only causes lameness in the early stages, and as a 

 rule tlds afterwards disappears, but large exostoses near the joint 

 may produce permanent lameness. 



Needless to Bay the prospect is less hopeful in saddle-horses than 

 in ordinary working-horses, though animals with large ring-bones 

 have been known to give satisfaction in fast work. Special care 

 is required in young patients, particularly if ring-bone develop before 

 the animal has done much work. If, under such circumstances, 

 the lameness is obstinate, there is little prospect of the animal ever 

 proving useful. On the other hand, old horses which have shown 

 ring-bones for a long time without going lame are likely to continue 

 sound, unless exceptionally severe work is demanded of them. It is 

 common experience that ring-bones in hind feet less frequently cause 

 lameness than those in front. 



Treatment. Ring-bone can be prevented by care in the selection 

 of breeding animals, by proper use and treatment of the young 

 animal, by careful paring of the hoof, and later by proper shoeing. 

 In the articular form, nothing whatever is gained by ordinary treat- 

 ment ; neurectomy alone is likely to remove lameness, but even it 

 fails when the joint has become fixed. 



In periarticular ring-bone attention must be directed to preventing 

 sprains and to securing a proper distribution of pressure in the 

 articulations. The hoof should be carefully pared to allow the weight 

 to be distributed regularly in the coronet-joint, and to avoid strain 

 nf its ligaments. The parts of the wall which first meet the ground 

 when moving should, therefore, be shortened. Though attention 

 must be directed to the side of the wall, yet the bearing of the toe 

 should not be overlooked. Over-long heels should be shortened ; 

 some practitioners recommend plain shoes (i.e., without calkins), 

 thin at the heels ; or, if the heels be too low, a shoe with calkins, 

 or better with thick heels. As a rule, it is sufficient properly to pare 

 the foot. Care must be taken that the pastern lies parallel with 

 the walls of the hoof ; if not, it must be caused to do so. This is 

 necessary on two grounds : firstly, because the position of the pastern 

 is often changed in the disease in question ; secondly, because such 

 change in position may lead to sprains of the ligaments of the 

 joint. Observance of these precautions is of far greater value 

 than any local treatment. In this way Moller often cured old- 

 standing lameness, which had resisted every other method of treat- 

 ment attempted. 



As long as inflammation of the ligaments or periosteum con- 



