318 THE HORSE 



of growth, especially when an animal has been turned out, 

 for the horn grows faster in wet weather or in damp grass 

 than it does when the conditions are drier. But when the 

 rings appear only on the inner quarter attention should be 

 paid to them, for then they often point to some disease 

 of the foot. This is frequently well marked in cases of 

 navicular and laminitis. 



Exostosis. 



In all cases of exostosis, such as side-bones, ring-bones, 

 splints, and spavins, non-interference in the majority of 

 cases results in a much larger deposit of bone than is the case 

 if treatment is at once resorted to. Blistering, as a rule, 

 limits the growth, and causes the process to become callosed 

 more rapidly than rest alone will effect. The inflammatory 

 action in the lateral cartilages can also be arrested by 

 blistering, which otherwise will convert the cartilage cells 

 into bone ; and therefore there is every reason to blister at 

 once any exostosis, wherever situated, as soon as any 

 indication is apparent that mischief is brewing, which may 

 become serious. 



Side-bones. 



Side-bones are the ossification of the lateral cartilages 

 of the foot, and when these are pressed upon at the heels, 

 instead of being flexible they are found to be perfectly 

 unyielding. Like ring-bones they are to some extent here- 

 ditary, and while formerly they were largely in evidence 

 amongst the heavy breeds, they are now much more rarely 

 seen in consequence of stallions being rejected as unsound 

 when so afflicted. 



EiNG-BONES. 



King-bones are a bony enlargement of the same nature as 

 spavins and splints, but are situated above the coronet, and 

 may encircle the whole part. Though causing lameness 

 whilst they are forming, when once they are fully grown 



