42 HORSE SENSE. 



RING BONES AND SIDE BONES. 



Ring bones are the result of disease of the bony structure and side 

 bones of the fibro-elastic cartlages, whose office it is to prevent undue 

 expansion of the feet at the heels. 



Can ring bone be cured? Sometimes they are cured. That is to 

 say, the lameness disappears. The best place, however to have ring- 

 bones or spavins is on another man's horse. "Cranks" will modestly 

 admit their inability to cure either one or the other, but they can "kill" 

 them, every time. This is as a rule, absolute nonsense. Lameness from 

 spavin is often got over in young horses, but rarely in old ones. Rest 

 is the main factor in the cure. Firing and blister will expedite the cure. 

 Anchylosis or growing of the joint solid is what happens. Some of the 

 gliding motion of the lower portion of the hock is lost, but the horse is 

 practically as good as ever. I use one ounce of biniodide of mercury to 

 eight of lard as a blister. There are a heap of things that a farmer can 

 do for himself, but when an animal is really ill, always get the best 

 qualified man available to treat it; and when you get his advice and pay 

 for it, follow it; don't keep a dog and do the barking yourself. 



SPLINT. 



What do you say about a splint that does not lame a horse? Take 

 my advice and leave it alone. Never hold a funeral until the corpse is 

 read. 



What liniment is good for sprains? A very simple lotion for 

 sprains and also for flesh wounds, is one ounce of sugar of lead and six 

 drams of sulphate of zinc, in a quart of water. 



WOLF-TEETH. 



Do wolf-teeth cause blindness? No, sir; they do not. 



BOTS. 



Bots rarely harm the horse, his stomach is their natural winter resi- 

 dence. 



CURB. 



A curb is not a bone disease at all. It is a sprain o.f a ligament, 

 usiially it lames only young horses. Rest and a high heeled shoe with a 

 cooling lotion in the inflamatory stage. Hand rubbing or a blister will 

 remove the thickening of the parts, after inflammation subsides. 



