388 HEALTH AND DISEASE 



families the hereditary disposition to side-bone is so strongly marked as to 

 respond to the most feeble of exciting causes. These commonly take the 

 form of blows to the coronet, concussion to the feet, sprain of the cartilages, 

 too early and severe work, especially on deep strong land where short 

 turnings and heavy pulls are required at the headlands. High-heeled shoes 

 and high calks are also said to excite it, but these bear a small proportion, 

 if any, to the other inducing causes. 



Symptoms. The actual presence of side-bone is made known when 

 the cartilage or a part of it has become hard and unyielding and lost its 

 natural elasticity and spring. This change, with rare exceptions, com- 

 mences deep down at the point where the cartilage is connected with the 

 pedal or " coffin " bone. There is, therefore, a period in its early develop- 

 ment when it may not be recognized with certainty owing to its enclosure 

 within the hoof. In the course of time, however, it becomes obvious to the 

 touch, and in many instances to the sight also, appearing as a rounded 

 prominence on the coronet towards the heel. The disease may affect only 

 one foot, or both, or one side of a foot, or both cartilages may be involved 

 at the same time or consecutively. In some instances side-bones are of 

 slow growth, while in others the whole of the cartilage undergoes rapid 

 ossification. Lameness is by no means a necessary result of side -bone. 

 Numerous cases occur without giving rise to any obvious change in the 

 animal's action, while others are attended with considerable pain or even 

 complete disablement. In the latter examples the foot is hot, the action 

 short, and the tread wanting in firmness, with an inclination to the sound 

 side of the foot, if such there be. When in the stable the animal stands 

 with the heel slightly raised from the ground, and if both feet are affected 

 the weight is shifted from one limb to the other at longer or shorter 

 intervals. 



Treatment. In all cases of foot-lameness in heavy horses where no 

 obvious cause for it exists, side -bone should be suspected and prompt 

 treatment adopted. Where a pond is available the horse should be made 

 to stand in it two or three hours a day for a week, and should be after- 

 wards blistered over the coronet and pastern every fortnight for three 

 times, or oftener if required. In the intervals he should be turned into 

 a damp meadow or river-side pasture, or into a yard well littered with 

 peat or tan. Should blistering fail to remove the lameness, firing must 

 be next resorted to. In old cases firing should be adopted at once. Cutting 

 fissures in the hoof by means of a saw, or dividing the nerves of the foot, 

 are the last and heroic measures of side-bone treatment. 



