THE HORSE 153 



b. Ringbone is a term applied to a bony growth around 

 the bone just above the coronet of the hoof. This trouble 

 is more serious than splints, but it is possible both to pre- 

 vent and to cure it by methods which can not be discussed 

 here. 



c. Bone spavin is a bony outgrowth of the hock joint. 

 It interferes in a serious measure with the usefulness of the 

 horse. After spavin has become established there is not 

 much hope of cure. A month or two of rest in the pasture 

 is the best medicine for a spavined horse. 



d. In addition to these bone diseases, lameness may be 

 caused by various troubles about the joints, such as blood 

 spavin, straining of the joints, or by various foot troubles. 



Wounds. Too little attention is given to the treatment of 

 wounds in farm animals. Lockjaw and blood-poison are likely 

 to result from the neglect of wounds. Shallow wounds may 

 become exceedingly sore and cause much discomfort to the 

 animals. When cut surfaces are kept perfectly clean, the 

 wound heals much more rapidly, but this is not always pos- 

 sible with farm animals. Never sew stitches in the horse's 

 flesh. The wound should always be treated and bandaged if 

 possible. Applying a solution of carbolic acid and covering 

 the surface with iodof orm, if the wound can not be bandaged, 

 is a treatment which will prevent the entrance of germs and 

 flies. The application of camphor to wounds also prevents 

 the entrance of flies. It should be said in this connection that 

 if farmers were more careful about the use of barbed-wire 

 fences about horse pastures there would be less trouble from 

 wounds among farm horses. 



