254 



TilS nORSF'. 



which a represents tlie lower part of llie shank- 

 bone ; h the sessamoid-bones ; c the upper pastern ; 

 d the lower pastern ; and e the coffin-bone ; / are 

 the branches of the suspensory ligaments going to 

 unite with the extensor tendon ; g- the long extensor 

 tendon; h ligaments connecting the two pastern-bones 

 together ; and i the lateral cartilages of the foot. And 

 now, having anived at the foot, which is the most 

 complicated and important part in the frame of a 

 horse, we shall defer the consideration of the coffin 

 and navicular bones until we have described the 

 hinder extremities. We may, however, observe that 

 both these joints are subject to sprain, and particu- 

 larly the coffin-joint. 



SPRAIN OF THE COFFIN-JOINT. 



The proof of this is when the lameness is sudden, and the heat and tender- 

 ness are principally felt round the coronet. Bleeding at the toe, physic, fo- 

 mentation, and blisters are the usual means adopted. This lameness is not 

 easily removed, even by a blister ; and if removed, like sprains of the fet- 

 lock and of the back-sinews, it is apt to return, and, finally, produce a 

 great deal of disorganization and mischief in the foot. This wrick, or 

 sprain of the coffin-joint, sometimes becomes a very serious affair, not 

 being always attended by any external swellings and being detected only 

 by heat round the coronet, the seat of the lameness is often overlooked by 

 the o-room and the farrier ; and the disease is suffered to become confirmed 

 before its nature is discovered. There is no species of lameness more 

 confounded with affections of the shoulder than this, because it is the cus- 

 tom of these ignorant and prejudiced persons to trace every lameness to the 

 shoulder which is not palpably referable to another part. 



From violent or repeated sprains of the pastern or coffin-joints, or exten- 

 sion of the ligaments attached to other parts of the pastern-bones, inflam- 

 mation takes place in the periosteum, and bony matter is formed, which 

 often rapidly increases, and is recognised by the name of 



RINGBONE. 



Ringbone commences in one of the pasterns, and usually about the pas- 

 tern-joint, but it rapidly spreads, and involves not only the pastern-bones, 

 but the cartilages of the foot. When the first deposit is on the lower pas- 

 tern, and on both sides of it, and produced by violent inflammation of the 

 ligaments of the joints, it is recognised by a slight enlargement, or bony 

 tumour on each side of the foot, and just above the coronet. (See /"in 

 the following cut.) This is more frequent in the hind foot than the fore, 

 because, from the violent action of the hind legs in propelling the horse 

 forward, the pasterns are more subject to ligamentary injury behind than 

 before ; yet the lameness is not so great, because the disease is confined 

 principally to the ligaments, and the bones have not been injured by 

 concussion ; wliile iVom the position of the fore limbs and their exposure 

 to concussion, there will generally be in them injury of the bones to 

 be added to that of the ligaments. In its early stage, and when recog- 

 nised only by a bony enlargement on both sides of the pastern-joint, 

 or in some few cases on one side only, the lameness is not very con- 

 siderable, and it is not impossible to remove the disease by active blister- 

 ing, or by the application of the cautery : but there is so much wear 

 and tear in this part of the animal, that the infiammation and the disposi- 

 tion to the formation of bone rapidly spread The pasterns first become 



