285 



obvious, and a-s the whole matter is within the control of the owners 

 and breeders it will be their own fault if the unchecked transmission 

 of ringbones from one equine generation to another shall be allowed to 

 continue. It is our belief that among the diseases which are known for 

 their tendency to peri)etuate and repeat themselves by individual suc- 

 cession, those of the bony structures stand first, and the inference from 

 such a fact which would exclude every animal of doubtful soundness 

 in its osseous apparatus from the stud list and the brood farm is too 

 plain for argument. 



Periostitis of the phalanges is an ailment requiring careful explora- 

 tion and minute inspection for its discovery and is quite likely to result 

 in a ringbone of which lameness is the effect. The mode of its mani- 

 festation varies according to the state of development of the diseased 

 growth as aff'ected by the circumstances of its location and dimensions. 

 It is commonly of the kind which, in consequence of its intermittent 

 character, is termed lameness ichen cool, having the peculiarity of exhib- 

 iting itself when the animal starts from the stable and of diminishing if 

 not entirely disappearing after some distance of travel to return to its 

 original degree, if not indeed a severer one wheu he has again cooled 

 off" in his stable. The size of the ringbone does not indicate the degree 

 to which it cripples the patient, but the position may, especially when 

 it interferes with the free movement of the tendons which pass behind 

 and in front of the coronet. While a large ringbone will often inter- 

 fere but little with the motion of the limb, a smaller growth if situated 

 under the tendon, may become the cause of considerable and continued 

 pain. 



A ringbone is doubtless a worse evil than a splint. Its growth, its 

 location, its tendency to increased development, its exposure to the in- 

 fluence of causes of renewed danger, all tend to impart an unfavorable 

 cast to the prognosis of a case and to emphasize the importance 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 lameness before a dis- 

 covery has been made of the lesion from which it has originated, and 

 there is no recall for the lapsed time. And by the uncompromising seri- 

 ousness 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 ex- 

 isted 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 mercnry, 

 and if these fail, firing with the hot iron, and as a last resort, ueu- 

 rotumy, high or low as indicated by the seat of the lesion. 



