DISEASES OF THE BOXES 395 



the symptom ( lameness ) of the disease, but an unnerved 

 horse is not of much good for army purposes. I therefore 

 consider that once the disease becomes firmly established 

 it is an unfortunate and incurable one. 



' Post-mortem reveals the small nodular growths on the 

 inner surfaces of the wings of the pedal bone, and if long 

 established the ends of the navicular bone are also involved. 

 Exudation and gradual growth of false material around 

 the nodules take place, which also serves to increase 

 pressure.'* 



3. ' This case was brought for my opinion. The horse 

 was lame, and walked similar to one that had had lami- 

 nitis, putting the heel down first upon the ground. I 

 ordered the patient to be destroyed. You will note the 

 ossification of the flexor pedis at its attachment to the 

 pedal bone. I enclose photos of the ground, also of the 

 articular, surfaces of the bone.'t 



B. PYRAMIDAL DISEASE, BUTTRESS FOOT, OR LOW 

 RINGBONE. 



Definition. — A condition of periostitis and ostitis in the 

 region of the pyramidal process of the os pedis, usually 

 preceded, but sometimes followed, by fracture of the pro- 

 cess, and characterized by deformity of the hoof and an 

 alteration in the normal angle of the joint. 



Causes. — In the majority of cases buttress foot is brought 

 about by fracture of the pyramidal process. Thus, although 

 distinct evidence of such is nearly always wanting, we may 

 assume that the original cause is violent injury to the part 

 in question. Properly, therefore, one would say that this 

 condition should be described under Fractures of the Os 

 Pedis. It appears, however, that other cases of the kind 

 arise in which fracture is altogether absent, or in which it 



* Captain L. M. Smith, A.V.D., Veterinary Record, vol. xi., 

 p. 229. 



t F. B. Jones, M.R.C.V.S., Veterinary Record, vol. xi., p. 230. 



