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disease are those with short upright pasterns, for the reason that the 

 shock of locomotion is but imperfectly dissipated in the fore legs of 

 these animals. Improper shoeing, such as the use of high calks, a too 

 great shortening of the toe and correspondingly high heels, j)redispose 

 to this disease by increasing the concussion to the feet. 



ISymptoms. — The first symptom of an actively developed ringbone is 

 the appearance of a lameness more or less acute. If the bony tumor 

 forms on the side or upper parts of the large pastern its growth is gen- 

 erally unattended with acute inflammatory action, and, consequently, 

 produces no lameness or evident fever. These are called false ring- 

 bones. But when the tumors form on the whole circumference of the 

 ankle, or simj)ly in front under the extensor tendon, or behind under the 

 flexor tendons j or if they involve the joints between the two pastern 

 bones, or between the small jjastern and the coflin bone, the lameness is 

 always severe. These constitute the true ringbone. Besides the lame- 

 ness the ankle of the afl'ected limb presents more or less heat, and in 

 many instances a rather firm, though limited, swelling of the deeper 

 tissues over the seat of the inflammatory process. The lameness of 

 ringbone is characteristic in that the heel is first placed on the ground 

 when the disease is in a fore leg, and the ankle is kept as rigid as pos- 

 sible. In the hind leg, however, the toe strikes the ground first when 

 the ringbone is high on the ankle, just as in health; but the aukle is 

 maintained in a rigid position. If the bony growth is under the front 

 tendon of the hind leg, or if it involves the coflin joint, the heel is 

 brought to the ground first. In the early stages of the disease it is not 

 always easy to diagnose ringbone ; but when the deposits have reached 

 some size they can be felt and seen as well. 



The importance of a ringbone of course depends on its seat, and often 

 on its size. If it interferes with the joints, or with the tendons, it may 

 cause an incurable lameness even though small. If it is on the sides 

 of the large pastern, the lameness generally disappears as soon as the 

 tumor has reached its growth and the inflammation subsides. Even 

 where the pastern joint is involved, if complete anchylosis results, the 

 patient may recover from the lameness with simj^ly an imperfect action 

 ot the foot remaining, due to thestiff joint. 



Treatment. — Before the bony growth has commenced, the inflammatory 

 process may be cut short by the use of cold baths and wet bandages, 

 followed by one or more blisters. If the bony deposits have begun, 

 the firing iron should always be used. Even where the tumors are 

 large and the pastern joint involved, firing often hastens the process of 

 anchylosis, and should always be tried. 



Where the lower joint is involved, or where the tumor interferes with 

 the action of the tendons, of course recovery is not to be expected. In 

 many of these latter cases, however, the animal may be made servicea- 

 ble by proper shoeing. If the patient walks with the toe on the ground 

 the foot should be shod with a high-heeled shoe and a short toe. On 



