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and the value of an early discovery of its presence and possible growth. 

 Even when the discovery has been accomplished it is often the case 

 that the truth has come to light too late for effectual treatment. 

 Months may have elapsed after the first manifestation of the lame- 

 ness before a discovery has been made of the lesion from which it 

 has originated, and there is no recall for the lapsed time. And by 

 the uncompromising seriousness of the discouraging prognosis must 

 the energy and severity of the treatment and the promptness of its 

 administration be measured. The periostitis has been overlooked; 

 any chance that might have existed for preventing its advance to the 

 chronic stage has been lost; the osseous exudation is established; 

 the ringbone is a fixed fact, and the indications are urgent and 

 pressing. These include severe blistering once or twice repeated ; the 

 application of the red iodide of mercury, and if these fail, firing with 

 the hot iron, and as a last resort, neurotomy, high or low as indicated 

 by the seat of the lesion. 



SIDE-BONES. 



On each side of the bone of the foot — the coffin-bone — there are 

 normally two supplementary organs which are called the cartilages of 

 the foot. They are soft, and though in a degree elastic, yet somewhat 

 resisting, and are implanted on the lateral wing of the coffin-bone. 

 Evidently their office is to assist in the elastic expansion and contrac- 

 tion of the posterior part of the foot, and their healthy and normal 

 action doubtless contributes in an important degree to the perfect 

 performance of the functions of that part of the leg. These organs are, 

 however, liable to undergo a process of disease which results in an 

 entire change in their properties, if not in their shape, by which they 

 acquire a character of hardness resulting from the deposit of earthy 

 substance in the intimate structure of the cartilage, and it is this 

 change, when its consummation has been affected, that brings to 

 our cognizance the diseased growth which has received the designa- 

 tion of side-bones. They are situated on one or both sides of the leg, 

 bulging above the superior border of the foot in the form of two hard 

 bodies composed of ossified cartilage, irregularly square in shape and 

 unyielding vmder the pressure of the fingers. 



The side-bone may be a termination of a low inflammatory condi- 

 tion, or of an acute attack as well, or may be caused by sprains, bruises, 

 or blows; or they may have their rise in certain diseases affecting the 

 foot proper, as corns, quarter cracks, or quittor. The dejjosit of cal- 

 careous matter in the cartilage is not always uniform, the base of that 

 organ near its line of union with the coffin-bone being in some cases 

 its limit, while at other times it is diffused throughout its substance, 

 the size and prominence of the tumors varying much in consequence. 

 It would naturally be inferred that the amount of interference with 

 the proper functions of foot which must result from siich a patholog- 

 ical change would be proportioned to the size of the tumor, and that as 



