248 DISEASES OF BONE. 



action of the lower portion of the suspensory ligament. It is 

 sometimes accompanied by a diseased condition of the upper 

 (articulating) surface of tlie long pastern bone, with the prolaable 

 result of incurable lameness. In such cases, the lower surface of 

 the cannon bone, which comes in contact with the diseased surface 

 in question, is rarely affected. At the same time, even when the 

 bony deposit does not involve it« neiglibouring joint, it may from 

 its size and consequent interference with tendon or ligament, as 

 in Figs. 88 and 90, cause incurable lameness. (2) High ringhime 





Fig, 87. — Ringbone on off fore. 



is tlie term usually applied when the deposit involves the joint 

 which is between the long and short pastern bones. This is more 

 common than the next variety, and may be readily seen in the 

 form of a swelling on the front of the pastern (Fig. 87). A ver}' 

 severe case of this form of ringbone, with complete bony union 

 between the two pastern bones is shown in Fig. 92. (.3) Low ring- 

 bone, when the bony formation affects tlie joint between the pedal 

 bone and the short pastern bone. This is far more serious than 

 the first two, owing to tlie imyielding nature of the horny wall of 

 the hoof which surrounds the implicated joint. Both high and 

 low ringbone may be due to an inflammation which leaves the 



