lameness: its causes and teeatment. 315 



The mode of its manifestation varies according to the state of de- 

 velopment of the diseased growth as affected by the circumstances 

 of its location and dimensions. It is commonly of the kind which, 

 in consequence of its intermittent character, is termed lameness wh^i 

 cool, having the peculiarity of exhibiting' itself when the animal 

 starts from the stable and of diminishing, if not entirely disappear- 

 ing after some distance of travel, to return to its original degree, if 

 not indeed a severer one, when 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 inter- 

 feres with the free movement of the tendons which pass behind and 

 in front of the foot. While a large ringbone will often interfere 

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

 under the tendon, may become the cause of considerable and con- 

 tinued pain. 



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

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

 influence of causes of renewed danger, all tend to impart an unfavor- 

 able cast to the prognosis of a case and to emphasize the impor- 

 tance and the value of an early discovery of its presence and possible 

 growth. Even when the discovery has been made, 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 lame- 

 ness before a discovery has been made of the lesion from which it 

 has originated, and there is no recall for the lapsed time. And by 

 the uncompromising seriousness 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 existed for preventing its advance to the 

 chronic stage has been lost ; the osseous formation is established ; the 

 ringbone is a fixed fact, and the indications are urgent and pressing. 



Treatment. — The preventive treatment consists in keeping colts 

 well nourished and in trimming the hoof and shoeing to balance the 

 foot properly and thus prevent an abnormal strain on the ligaments. 

 Even after the ringbone has developed, a cure may sometimes be oc- 

 casioned by proper shoeing directed toward straightening the axis of 

 the foot as viewed, from the side by making the wall of the hoof from 

 the coronet to the toe continuous with the line formed by the front 

 of the pastern. So long as inflammation of the periosteum and liga- 

 ments remains, a sharp blister of biniodid of mercury and canthari- 

 des may do good if the animal is allowed to rest for four or five 

 weeks. If this fails, some success may be accomplished by point 

 firing in two or three lines over the ringbone. It is necessary to touch 

 the hot iron well into the bone, as superficial firing does little good. 

 When all these measures have failed to remove the lameness, or when 



