THE END OP THE SEASON. 115 



Ringbone^ sideboneSj and ossification of tlie lateral 

 cartilages^ lame many a good hunter. Firing used to 

 be the general remedy for ringbone, but tbe biniodide 

 blister has nearly supplanted it. A bhster, applied in 

 good time, will often stop the progress of a bony deposit. 

 The other two evils happen mostly to horses possessing 

 ^' strong ^^ feet. When once the cartilage is turned to 

 bone, any attentions are thrown away upon it, but 

 mild and repeated blisters will stop the progress of the 

 disease, if applied in time. The shoe should be taken 

 ofi" to allow the foot to perform its natural functions as 

 much as possible. I may here mention that I have seen 

 two cases of incipient ossification of the cartilages — one, 

 indeed, a good deal more than an incipient case — cured 

 by the use of the Charlier shoe, without either rest or 

 bhster.* 



Sandcrack will have stopped the horse's hunting when 

 it appeared. It is a great nuisance, taking time to 

 mend ; but the advice of a vet. is indispensable here, so 

 I will say nothing more about it. 



Spavins are of different sorts. Sometimes they don^t 

 lame the horse ; then let them alone. Oftener, however, 

 the horse is lame, after work especially, and at first 

 starting. There are many remedies which profess to 

 cure spavins without firing — blisters of difierent sorts ; 

 and, when used on the first appearance of the mischief, 

 they may sometimes succeed. When the disease is 

 decided, I know of no remedy but firing that can be 

 depended upon; nor is that always infallible. If the 

 horse must be fired, there is no reason that the whole of 

 the inside of the hock should be scored over. A few 

 lines drawn with the iron just on the seat of the bony 



* And since the above was written I have seen two cases more. 



I 2 



