, RINGBONE. 269 



bigness, makes the horse lame ; from whence 'tis plain that the 

 greatness of the danger that attends it must be measured hy the 

 nearness to the coronet*.'^ 



Generally speaking, actual or palpable lameness is not an 

 accompaniment of ringbone : but there occur few cases in which 

 stiffness, to a greater or less degree, of the pastern joint is not 

 perceptibly present; though, as we have had occasion before to 

 remark, this " stiffness" is not commonly noticed, or, if noticed 

 at first, by use wears off to that degree that, being in a hind leg, 

 after a time it is not by the ordinary rider felt or observed at all. 

 In chronic cases of ringbone and other exostoses, in cases in which 

 all inflammatory or hypertrophic action has passed away, it is 

 surprising, after medical treatment has done its best, what use, 

 when it is not carried to abuse, brings about for such horses, by 

 way of creating motion in joints partially or completely stiff 

 from anchylosis, and particularly when such has not been of too 

 long standing. 



The Treatment of Ringbone, being by modern practitioners 

 of veterinary medicine reduced to the principles laid down for the 

 treatment of exostosis in general, has in their hands not only 

 become divested of that cruel and useless practice, " drawing the 

 sole," as recommended by Solleysell and others, but has undergone 

 some improvement as well. It will occur to any veterinarian 

 setting about to treat a case of the kind, that the object with which 

 treatment is instituted should be the paramount one in his mind ; 

 seeing that he will meet with many cases of ringbone that call for no 

 medical treatment at all. If lameness be present, we must inquire 

 wherefrom the lameness proceeds, whether from any existing in- 

 flammation, or from over-stretched periosteum, or from proximity 

 of the exostosis to, and consequent interference with, any joint or 

 sinew ; all which considerations may, in kind or degree, modify 

 his plan of treatment. 



For the relief of periosteal or ligamentary inflammation produc- 

 tive of callus, or for recent osseous effusion, nothing surpasses the 

 local abstraction of blood, succeeded by a blister upon the part. Any 

 vein of the limb — the principal one is generally to be preferred, 

 * Op. cit. sect, ii, pp. 1-21-122. 



