OSSIFICATION OF THE LATERAL CARTILAGE. SIDE-BONE. 897 



pain. After the fourth day, absorbents like mecurial ointment 

 generally act better. Warm moist applications are of the greatest 

 service, and should be supplemented by pressure, which conduces 

 alike to local rest and resorption. In many cases this treatment 

 is sufficient. If, after diminution of inflammatory symptoms, severe 

 swelling remain, the parts may be massaged with a mixture of equal 

 parts of mercurial ointment and soft soap, and the patient exercised 

 at a walk. If this prove unsuccessful, blisters of cantharides or 

 sublimate may be applied ; point or line firing is even better. In 

 obstinate cases this treatment may with advantage be alternated, 

 blisters being followed by moist warmth and methodical compression, 

 which is especially useful for chronic thickening. 



Rest is necessary in most cases throughout the treatment, and 

 even to test his action the horse should not be trotted. To prevent 

 further strains, the floor of the box should be flat and be covered with 

 a layer of sawdust, shavings or peat. The bedding should be 

 abundant, but if straw is used it should be cut into short lengths 

 to prevent it winding round the animal's legs. When lameness 

 disappears, the animal may be slowly exercised on soft ground and 

 precautions taken against fresh slips. 



The long-toed shoe, formerly recommended against " knuckling," 

 should be carefully avoided on account of its aggravating any existing 

 inflammation hi the injured ligaments. Contraction is best combated 

 by slow, cautious exercise during the period of convalescence. 



The diseased joint may sometimes be fixed by a plaster bandage. 

 In the fetlock the best application is a splint formed of several thick- 

 nesses of stout canvas sewn together. 



As the coronet-joint can scarcely be fixed in this way, however, 

 strict rest and the application of a blister may be substituted. 



VII.— OSSIFICATION OF THE LATERAL CARTILAGE. SIDE BONE. 



The term side-bone is applied to a condition in which the lateral 

 cartilages of the foot become partially or entirely ossified. The 

 wings of the pedal bone are prolonged backwards and upwards by 

 two plates of cartilage about a quarter of an inch thick and 

 approximately rhomboidal in shape, each of the faces being about 

 three inches in length (see Figs. 513 and 514.) They are only found 

 in solipeds. Under the action of the body-weight the plantar cushion, 

 bo which they are attached, alternately expands and contracts, and 

 so long as the cartilages remain normal they respond to this movement. 

 When ossification commences, however, movement in the anterior 



R.S. 3 M 



