LAMENESS IN THE FORE LEG 



121 



When the manner in which pain is occasioned is considered, it 

 will be understood why lameness is intermittent in the early 

 stages of this affection and may even be unnoticed by the driver. 

 An animal may travel on a smooth road without giving evidence 

 of any inconvenience, but as soon as a rough and irregular pave- 

 ment or road surface is reached, will limp. As the subject is 

 driven farther on level streets the lameness may disappear. This 

 intermittent type of lameness may continue until there is de- 

 veloped a large exostosis, or until articular involvement causes 



Fig. 18 — Rarefying osteitis in chionic ringbone and ossification of lateral 

 cartilages. 



SO much distress during locomotion that lameness is constant. 

 On the other hand, resolution may occur during the stage of 

 periosteal inflammation, oi', an exostosis forms which causes no 

 interference with function. 



Before there is evidence of an exostosis, diagnosis of ringbone 

 is not easy, for it is then a problem of detecting the presence of 

 a ligamentous sprain, periostitis, or osteitis. The diagnostician 

 should take note of local manifestations of hypersensitiveness, or 

 heat if such exist, and, in addition, other conditions must be ex- 

 cluded before definite conclusions are possible. 



In articular ringbone as soon as there is developed an exostosis, 



