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by lameness in harness and in saddle horses ; though when they are not 

 worked, there being no concussion, the progression is not necessarily 

 impeded, or altered. Mr. Fearnley writing on these points says, "we not 

 unfrequently find the lateral cartilages strong, but yielding, and, when that is 

 the case, a horse with a good foot otherwise may be considered as sound. 

 These strong lateral cartilages are not ossified, and have no particular 

 tendency to become so. If you can feel them to yield, no matter how little, 

 they are not ossified." Very different, however, is it with heavy-bodied dray 

 horses, in which the lateral cartilages have a strong tendency to become 

 transformed into bone. 



A harness or saddle horse, although sometimes not actually lame from 

 side-bone, will generally lose his elasticity of action when worked ; and, before 

 long, actual lameness is to be expected, if not already manifest. In a cart- 

 horse employed for slow work, it is not of such paramount importance that 

 the action be characterised by that elasticity natural to the healthy foot ; 

 but, if the soles be flat or convex or otherwise misshapen, and the action of 

 the animal be stiff, he cannot be passed as sound. 



In examining a horse for side-bone, the lateral cartilages should be 

 pressed upon firmly. If normal, they will be found to be yielding and elastic. 

 In disease they become hard and inelastic, owing to the deposition of bone ; 

 and a hard swelling may be found at the back of the coronet and heels. If 

 the morbid process be recent, and in a state of inflammation, the sweUing 

 will be found to be tender and hot. It must be pointed out that sometimes 

 the bony deposit involves the whole cartilage uniformly, while at other times 

 it affects only one or more isolated parts of it. Again, sometimes it involves 

 the hind portions ; and at others it only affects the fore parts of the 

 cartilage, in which case the hardness is felt at a point well forward on the 

 quarter. In the latter position, side-bone is much more likely to cause 

 lameness, than when situated more posteriorly, and in this situation has 

 sometimes been mistaken for ring-bone, a disease on which we shall shortly 

 speak. These two affections, side-bone and ring-bone, however, are entirely 

 different, involving different parts, and occasioning different kinds of 

 lameness. An animal, when lame as the result of side-bone, brings the 

 toe of the foot first into contact with the ground. When both feet are 

 affected, the action resembles that of navicular disease, each of these diseases 

 been characterised by a want of elasticity of action, and by a short groggy 

 style of progression. Sometimes, it may be added, side-bone affects only one 

 lateral cartilage. 



The animal should be shod with bar shoes, and be rested. The affected 

 part should be smartly blistered with ointment of biniodide of mercury. ]( 

 these measures are not effectual, firing will be necessary. Prick-firing, or 

 firing with a small pointed instrument, is the method generally best adapted 

 for the cure of this affection. When thoroughly applied, this is found to be, 

 in many instances, a very efficient method of treatment. Sometimes other 

 structures are involved in the disease of the cartilage, and in these cases it 

 is better to employ stripe-firing. 



