898 OSSIFICATION OF THE LATERAL CARTILAGE. SIDE-BONE. 



portions is limited, and the posterior sections of the cartilage, which 

 usually resist disease for the longest period, tend to be excessively 

 displaced at each step. This aggravates the already existing 

 inflammation in the anterior parts, and causes pressure on the sensitive 

 structures of the back of the foot, sometimes producing lameness. 

 For this reason the disease is often progressive, and is much more 

 serious in animals with upright narroAv heels, where the horn cannot 

 yield, than in the opposite formation. 



The entire cartilage does not always become ossified, however ; 

 nor do both cartilages of one foot or the cartilages of both feet always 

 suffer at the same time. 



Lungwitz, who examined 1,251 horses, states that side-bones 

 occurred as shown in the annexed table : — 



1. Ossification of the lateral cartilage occurs principally in heavy, 

 coarse-bred horses. 2. The fore feet are more frequently affected 

 than the hind ; 3, the cartilage of the left hoof more frequently than 

 that of the right ; and 4, the outer cartilage more frequently than 

 the inner. 5. Ossification sometimes occurs at an early age, usually 

 when the animal is first put to work. 6. Well-bred animals are less 

 frequently affected than others. 7. The use of animals of heavy 

 build on hard roads favours the occurrence of side-bone. 



The symptoms vary according to whether one or both cartilages 

 are affected, and whether ossification is partial or complete. 



