412 BITKEAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTKY. 



Blows and other injuries to the cartilages ma}' set up an inflamnia- 

 tor}' process which ends in the formation of these bony growths. 

 High-heeled shoes, high calks, and long feet are always classed among 

 the conditions which may excite the growth of sidebones. They are 

 often seen in connection with contracted heels, ringbones, navicular 

 disease, punctured wounds of the foot, quarter-cracks, and occasion- 

 ally as a sequel to founder. 



Symptoms. — In the earlier stages of the disease, if intlammation is 

 present, the onl}- evidence of the trouble to be detected is a little fever 

 over the seat of the affected cartilage and a slight lameness. In the 

 lameness of sidebones the toe of the foot first strikes the ground and 

 the step is shorter than natural. The subject comes out of the stable 

 stiff and sore, but the gait is more free after exercise. 



Since the deposit of bony matter often begins in that part of the 

 cartilage where it is attached to the cofiinbone, the diseased process 

 may exist for some time before the bonv growth can be seen or felt. 

 Later on, however, the cartilage can be felt to have lost its elastic 

 character, and Iw standing in front of the animal a prominence of the 

 coronary region at the quarters can be seen. Occasional!}' these bones 

 become so large as to bulge the hoof outward, and by pressing on the 

 Joint the}" so interfere with locoiuotion that the animal becomes entirely 

 useless. 



Treatment. — So soon as the disease can be diagnosed active treat- 

 ment should be adopted. Cold-water bandages are to be used for a 

 few days to relieve the fever and soreness. 



The improvement consequent on the use of these simple measures 

 often leads to the belief that the disease has recovered; but with a 

 return to work the lameness, fever, etc., reappears. For this reason 

 the use of blisters, or, better still, the firing iron, should follow on the 

 discontinuance of the cold bandages. 



But in many instances no treatment will arrest the growth of these 

 bony tumors, and as a palliative measure neurotomy must be resorted 

 to. Generally this operation will so relieve the pain of locomotion 

 that the patient may be used for slow work; but in animals used for 

 fast driving or for saddle purposes, the operation is practically use- 

 less. Some years ago I unnerved a number of cavalry horses at Fort 

 Leavenworth that were suffering from sidebones, and the records show 

 that in less than seven months all were more lame than ever. Since 

 a predisposition to develop sidebones may be inherited, animals suffer- 

 ing from this disease should not be used for breeding purposes unless 

 the trouble is knowm to have originated from an accident. 



RINGBONE. 



A ringbone is the growth of a bony tumor on the ankle. This tumor 

 is, in fact, not the disease, but simply the result of an inflammatory 



