264 RINGBONE. 



ligament), in which situation it might probably not come under the 

 denomination of ringbone. 



But, without reference to its situation, a ringbone may be large 

 or small. There Avill likewise, as already has had allusion made 

 to it, be found variations in the form of the tumour. Very often, 

 instead of being complete, the segment of the ring is defective. 

 There exists tumour on either side of the pastern without any per- 

 ceptible prominence in the middle, between the lateral eminences. 

 Again, the tumour may be circumscribed or isolated. All this, 

 however, we repeat, in nowise affects our prognosis or treatment 

 save in so far as the joint, above or below, becomes a participator 

 in the disease. 



The Horses especially disposed to Ringbone are those 

 that have short upright pasterns, and from their low breed are 

 coarse and fleshy legged, the bones of such horses being more dis- 

 posed to exostosis in general. It was a knowledge of this fact that 

 led Gibson to make the remark, " when a fine high-bred horse hap- 

 pens to have a ringbone, we may conclude it to proceed from some 

 accident rather than from any natural fault* ;" by which he ap- 

 pears to have meant, predisposition. 



The Causes of Ringbone may be said to be of three kinds, 

 hereditary, structural, and incidental. Our attention was first 

 drawn to the hereditary origin of ringbone from a remark made by 

 an extensive dealer in horses resident in the north of England, in 

 reply to a question put to him, how it happened that but few ring- 

 bones were now met with compared to the number that attracted 

 notice in times past 1 The reply was, " Because no breeder of 

 horses now-a-days will send a mare to a horse having ringbones." 

 There appeared something like reason and truth in this ; and we 

 felt more inclined to attach faith to it when we came to read in 

 Solley sell's workt, " The ringbone is sometimes hereditary ; though 

 it is usually occasioned by a strain taken in curvetting, bounding 

 turns, and violent galloping or racing." 



That form, as well as breed, is concerned in the production of 

 ringbone, we have sufficient living demonstration. A coarse 



* Gibson's " New Treatise on the Diseases of Horses." 2d edit. p. 268. 

 I " Compleat Horseman." Hope's Translation. 2d edit, part ii, p. 122. 



