FORMS OF UNSOUNDNESS. 107 



shy. Unsoundness of eyesight certainly detracts from the 

 market value of a horse, though it Deed not necessarily inter- 

 fere with its usefulness for work. 



Unsoundness of Limbs. — The chief forms of unsound- 

 ness occurring in the limbs are as follows : ring-bone, side^bone, 

 navicular disease, chronic laminitis, bone-spavin, and curb. 



Ring:-bone occurs more often in the hind legs than in 

 the fore legs; it consists in bony deposits or excrescences being 

 produced on the pastern, and may or may not be the cause of 

 lameness. Treatment consists either in applying a blister or 

 in firing; if the former proves ineffectual, the latter must be 

 resorted to. If there is no lameness, treatment is not neces- 

 sary. 



Side-bone. — The unsoundness known as side-bone is 

 found principally among heavy draught horses, and occurs 

 chiefly in the fore-legs. It consists in the lateral cartilages 

 of the foot becoming ossified and hard. Side-bone is felt for 

 at the sides and back of the coronet, just above the hoof. Nor- 

 mally, this part is elastic, and feelo soft to the touch, but if 

 side-bone is present, it feels hard and unyielding. Side-bone 

 sometimes causes lameness, at other times it merely causes 

 the action to be stiff and short, while often practically no lame- 

 ness is produced by this unsoundness. When not lame, cart 

 horses suffering from side-bone are quite capable of doing team 

 work on the farm satisfactorily. Treatment is unnecessary if 

 there m no actual lameness. Should a horse g6 constantly 

 lame on accomit of side-bone, neurotomy * must be resorted to, 

 no other treatment being possible. If required for fast work, 

 horses with side-bone uiust be avoided. 



Navicular Disease has its seat in the horse's foot, and 



* The operation known as neurotomy consists in the division of a 

 certain nerve in the leg, which deprives the foot of sensation and 

 therefore relieves pain. 



