ROARIN». 187 



hence its name, ring-bone. It is most common in the fore 

 legs of heavy, coarse-bred horses, with short and straight 

 up pastern-joints. When it occurs in fine-bred horses, it 

 is usually the hind leg which is affected. Eing-bone does 

 not always cause lameness. 



Cause. Hereditary predisposition, from a peculiar for- 

 mation of pastern-joints, which are found not well adapted 

 to hard work ; and hence, an effort of nature is set up to 

 strengthen parts which are too weak, by converting an 

 elastic substance into a hard and unyielding mass, and a 

 moving hinge into a fixture. 



Treatment. If it is of recent origin, and the horse is 

 young, much may be done in the way of a cure, by first 

 removing all heat and inflammation with cold water cloths 

 wrapped round the parts for three days, taking them off 

 at night. At the end of that time, get one drachm of the 

 bin-iodide of mercury, mix with one ounce of lard, and 

 apply one-half of the salve by rubbing it in well for ten 

 minutes. Tie up the horse's head for a few hours, and 

 the next day wash off with soap and warm water, daily 

 anointing the parts with lard or oil for a week ; then apply 

 the remainder of the salve in the same way, and proceed as 

 before. In old horses, not much can be done with ring- 

 bone, as the bones of old animals contain so much earthy 

 (lime) matter that nothing can act upon it. 



Ringworm. — (See Skin Diseases.) 



Roaring. — A noise made by some horses when put to 

 work. There are many diffei'ent sounds produced from 

 the same cause, and they are incurable, except when 

 depending upon the presence of tumors, which can be 

 r'emoved. Roaring can be relieved somewhat by placing 

 pads over the faulty nostril. Wben very bad, an opei-ation 



