268 RINGBONE. 



lameness, or some approach thereto such as is familiarly known 

 under the appellation of " stiffness." 



The pastern and coronet bones — the two first phalanges of the 

 foot — are, though of different magnitudes, so similar in form and 

 use, that anybody looking casually at them might suppose that 

 one continuous bone would have answered the purpose of the two; 

 and so to a certain extent, perhaps, it might ; but not to the ex- 

 tent to have afforded that flexibility and play which the pastern, 

 as it is, possesses, and which is more particularly exhibited in 

 oblique-pasterned horses at such times as they are observed can- 

 tering, or galloping, or curvetting upon their haunches. Then it 

 is especially that the pastern joint is brought into action, and that 

 a horse without such a joint, or with one in a stiff state from ring- 

 bone or other cause, would be found to fail. Not only, however, 

 in such acts as these, but even in ordinary going, is the pastern 

 joint of use, and will there be a difference in action when such is 

 rendered immoveable ; though that difference may not be detecti- 

 ble by the eye of the common observer, or may not, in his judg- 

 ment, amount to any thing beyond " stiffness." 



It is said, that sometimes lameness from ringbone becomes 

 observable antecedently to the appearance of the tumour. Mr. 

 Spooner (of Southampton), in his work " On the Foot and Leg 

 of the Horse," informs us — " It often happens that a horse is 

 lame, and it is somewhat difficult to discover the seat of lame- 

 ness ; but after awhile a ringbone forms." We are at a loss at 

 the moment to recall to mind a case where such has occurred in 

 our own practice : at the same time we have no right to question a 

 fact which bears a strong analogy to what we ourselves have stated 

 happens not so very infrequently in spavin, and we may add, 

 we believe, in splint as well. 



The magnitude of a ringbone is likely to influence any lame- 

 ness that may attend it, only so far as the tumour may occasion 

 tension of the periosteum, or may abut against or spread upon any 

 contiguous joint. This latter was Solleysell's view of the matter, 

 and observation has shewn it to be a correct one. " The longer 

 the ringbone continues," says this observant writer, " it descends 

 lower upon the coronet (pastern ?), and, increasing to a considerable 



