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by lameness in harness and in saddle horses; though when they are not 
worked, there being no concussion, the progression is not necessarily 
impeded, or altered. Mr. Fearnley writing on these points says, “we not 
unfrequently find the lateral cartilages strong, but yielding, and, when that is 
the case, a horse with a good foot otherwise may be considered as sound. 
These strong lateral cartilages are not ossified, and have no particular 
tendency to become so. If you can feel them to yield, no matter how little, 
they are not ossified.” Very different, however, is it with heavy-bodied dray 
horses, in which the lateral cartilages have a strong tendency to become 
transformed into bone. 
A harness or saddle horse, although sometimes not actually lame from 
side-bone, will generally lose his elasticity of action when worked ; and, before 
Jong, actual lameness is to be expected, if not already manifest. Ina cart- 
horse employed for slow work, it is not of such paramount importance that 
the action be characterised by that elasticity natural to the healthy foot ; 
“but, if the soles be flat or convex or otherwise misshapen, and the action of 
the animal be stiff, he cannot be passed as sound. 
_ In examining a horse for side-bone, the lateral cartilages should be 
pressed upon firmly. If normal, they will be found to be yielding and elastic. 
in disease they become hard and inelastic, owing to the deposition of bone ; 
and a hard swelling may be found at the back of the coronet and heels. If 
the morbid process be recent, and in a state of inflammation, the swelling 
will be found to be tender and hot. It must be pointed out that sometimes 
the bony deposit involves the whole cartilage uniformly, while at other times 
it affects only one or more isolated parts of it. Again, sometimes it involves 
the hind portions; and at others it only affects the fore parts of the 
cartilage, in which case the hardness is felt at a point well forward on the 
quarter. In the latter position, side-bone is much more likely to cause 
lameness, than when situated more posteriorly, and in this situation has 
sometimes been mistaken for ring-bone, a disease on which we shall shortly 
speak, These two affections, side-bone and ring-bone, however, are entirely 
different, involving different parts, and occasioning different kinds of 
Jameness. An animal, when lame as the result of side-bone, brings the 
toe of the foot first into contact with the ground. When both feet are 
affected, the action resembles that of navicular disease, each of these diseases 
been characterised by a want of elasticity of action, and by a short groggy 
style of progression. Sometimes, it may be added, side-bone affects only one 
lateral cartilage. 
' The animal should be shod with bar shoes, and be rested. The affected 
part should be smartly blistered with ointment of biniodide of mercury. If 
these measures are not effectual, firing will be necessary. Prick-firing, or 
firing with a small pointed instrument, is the method generally best adapted 
for the cure of this affection. When thoroughly applied, this is found to be, 
in many instances, a very efficient method of treatment. Sometimes other 
structures are involved in the disease of the cartilage, and in these cases it 
is better to employ stripe-firing. 
