RINGWORM. 157 



Treatment. — Cure -the disease in the throat, and the 

 rheumatism will be deprived of its cause and support. 

 (See Influenza and Gastritis Mucosa.) 



Ring Bone- — This is a serious affection, and consists 

 of a circle of bone thrown out from the underlying bone, 

 and sometimes, in addition to this, the cartileges of the 

 foot are converted into bone, and laid in the form of a 

 circle; and hence its name, ringbone, is most common in 

 the fore-legs of heavy, coarse-bred horses, with short and 

 straight up pastern-joints. When it occurs in fine-bred 

 horses, it is usually the hind leg which is affected. Ring- 

 bone does not always cause lameness. 



Cause. — Hereditary predisposition, from a peculiar for- 

 mation of pastern-joints, which are found not well adapted 

 to stand hard work, and hence, an effort of nature is set 

 up to strengthen parts which are too weak, by converting 

 an elastic substance into a hard and unyielding mass, and 

 a moving hinge into a fixture. 



Treatment. — If it is of recent origin, and the horse is 

 young, much may be done in the way of a cure, by first 

 removing all heat and inflammation with cold water cloths 

 wrapped round the parts for three days, taking them off 

 at night. At the end of that time, get one drachm of the 

 bin-iodide of mercury, and mix with one ounce of lard, and 

 apply one-half of the salve by rubbing it in well for ten 

 minutes. Tie up the horse's head for a few hours, and 

 the next day wash off with soap and warm water, and dai- 

 ly anoint the parts with lard or oil for a week; then 

 apply the remainder of the salve in the same way, and 

 proceed as before. In old horses, not much can be done 

 with ring-bone, as the bones of old animals contain so 

 much earthy (lime) matter that nothing can act upon it. 



Ringworm. — (See Skin Diseases.) 



