104 DISEASES OF THE HOESE. 



I give for this formidable disease : 



Three drams powdered sulphate of copper, given every night in 

 the food until the horse refuses to eat. 



Repeat in a few days, but if the case is bad, give the medicine 

 in water as a drench, for ten days, if he will not take it in 

 his food. 



Ringbone. 



Many have supposed and asserted that this unsoundness in the 

 horse was inheritable. This is erroneous, as Ringbones are the 

 result of injuries, and often occur when the colt is but a few days 

 old, especially if it is compelled to follow the dam too far on a 

 hard road, before the feet have acquired sufficient strength and 

 solidity. Requiring the young foal to stand on a hard floor will 

 also produce them. They are produced in the horse, after he has 

 arrived at the age to be shod, by allowing the toes of the feet to 

 get too long ; from slipping on the ice ; shoeing without support 

 to the soles ; tramping on the feet by other horses, and various 

 other causes. 



The Ringbone is a knot, or excrescence of ossified bone, usually 

 forming in the region of the articulation of the coffin and lower 

 pastern bones ; hence, they destroy, in a greater or less degree, 

 the action of that very important joint, and generally produce 

 permanent lameness. 



Prevention by care and good management is more simple than 

 cure. 



In purchasing a horse it will be prudent to examine all the 

 feet by the pressure of the finger on the skin all around the pastern, 

 from the lower margin of the hair to the height of three inches, 

 as Ringbone may sometimes be detected in this manner when 

 it is not visible, especially in the incipient state. We have seen 

 excrescences form on the bone near the foot from bruises, which 

 never produced lameness, though they are suspicious blemishes. 



