270 RINGBONE. 



impeded or lost, and the whole of the foot becomes one mass 

 of spongy bone. From a disposition to spread, and at first around 

 the pastern-joint, which is situated just above the coronet, the 

 disease has acquired the name of ringbone.* 



We have introduced a bird's-eye view of some of the principal 

 lamenesses to which the fore extremities of the horse are sub- 

 ject. 



At a is a representation of the capped hock, oi enlargement of 

 the joint of the elbow. 



b is the tying-in of the leg below the knee. 



c is the most frequent situation of splint on the side of 

 the shank-bone, and not producing lameness after its first forma- 

 tion, because it does not interfere wtih the motion of the knee, 

 nor injure the supensory ligament. 



d is the situation and appearance of the enlargement accom- 

 panying sprain of the back sinews. This, however, is an 

 aggravated case ; and the sprain may be great, and the lame- 

 ness distressing, without all this swelUng. 



e is the place of wind-gall. 



f gives the appearance of ringbone when it first appears on 

 the side of the pastern, about the joint, and where there is 

 naturally some prominence of bone. 



g is the situation of sand-crack in the fore-leg. 



h the situation of mallenders. 



* N'ote by Mr. Spooner. — This disease, so termed because it constituted 

 bony growth round the pastern-bones, is of two kinds, which are distin- 

 guished by horsemen as true and false ringbones. The former occurs at 

 the pastern joint, and generally arises from strain of these ligaments ; but 

 the latter consists in ossification of the cartilages of *fee sides of the foot, 

 which become enlarged, as well as converted into bone. This is less fre- 

 quently the consequence of strains than the other disease, and it is oftener 

 found with heavy cart-horses than with lighter horses. Indeed, with many 

 horses there seems a predispositin to change their cartilaginous strucure 

 into bone. The exciting cause of these false ringbones is concussion, pro- 

 duced by the weight of the animal and the hardness of the road or pave- 

 ment Thus, on the London stones the disease is very common ; for the 

 same reason, it is the fore limbs where the disease occurs, in nine cases out 

 of ten. Indeed, we have found that all ringbones are more common in the 

 fore feet than in the hind ones. 



The best treatment for ringbones of either kind is, after the inflammation 

 has been in great measure removed by cooling applications, to fire the part, 

 or otherwise well rub in the iodide of mercury ointment, washing off the 

 effects on the following day, and thus repeating it again and agaia We 

 have by such means succeeded in removing the lameness, diminishing the 

 enlargement, and restoring the animal, in many cases, to a state of useful- 

 ness. 



