772 



DISEASES AND THEIK TREATMENT. 



fetlock, as this would cause breaking, or an irritation of the skin, 

 which would be very annoying and difficult to heal. 



Side-Bone or False Ring-Bone. 



Side-bone, properly speaking, is not exostosis, but ossification of 

 an already existing structure, it being ossification of the lateral 

 cartilages of the ospedis, or bone of the foot. It is most common 



in the fore feet, especially where the pas- 

 terns are short and straight. 



SyTYiptoms. — The lateral cartilages, which 

 in health are soft and flexible, become en- 

 larged, project above the hoof, and are hard 

 and bony. While the inflammatory process 

 is going on, there is heat and pain in the 

 part, and consequently lameness, which in 

 most cases ceases when the ossification is 

 completed; but there is always a degree of 

 stiffness observable, and the lameness is apt 

 to return if the horse is much used on the 

 road. 



Causes. — Short, upright pasterns predis- 

 pose to them ; they are most common in heavy 

 draught horses, used for teaming on the 

 road. Sometimes it arises from a tread from 

 another horse, which causes inflammation of those structures, which 

 is followed by ossification of the cartilage. 



Treatment. — The same principles must be observed in all these 

 cases. Rest is most essential ; continued cold applications, by mak- 

 ing him stand up to the fetlocks in soft clay, with cold water fre- 

 quently applied, would be the proper treatment until the acute 

 stage has passed, after which repeated blistering, or, if thought 

 necessary, tiring would be advisable. 



Curb. 



This is a swelling upon the back part of the hock about five or 

 six inches from the point (an illustration of which is given in 

 Figs. 676, 678). If there is heat and tenderness, with more or less 

 lameness, use cooling applications. The quickest way to reduce 

 inflammation of this kind is to direct a stream of coM water against 



Fig. 



—A well-defined 

 curb. 



