412 DISEASES OP THE HORSE. 



cause no lameness. In many instances sidebones are of slow growth 

 and, being unaccompanied by acute inflammation, they cause no 

 lameness until such time as, by reason of their size, they interfere 

 with the action of the joint. (Plate XXXIV, fig. 4.) 



Causes. — Sidebones often grow in heavy horses without any appar- 

 ent injury, and their development has been attributed to the over- 

 expansion of the cartilages caused by the great weight of the animal. 

 Blows and other injuries to the cartilages may Set up an inflammatory 

 process which ends in the formation of these bony growths. High- 

 heeled shoes, high calks, and long feet are always classed among the 

 conditions which jnay excite the growth of sidebones. They are often 

 seen in connection with contracted heels, ringbones, navicular dis- 

 ease, punctured wounds of the foot, quarter-cracks, and occasionally 

 as a sequel to founder. 



Symptoms. — In the earlier stages of the disease, if inflammation is 

 present, the only evidence of the trouble to be detected is a little fever 

 over the seat of the affected cartilage and a slight lameness. In the 

 lameness of sidebones the toe of the foot first strikes the ground and 

 the step is shorter than natural. The subject comes out of the stable 

 stiff and sore, but the gait is more free after exercise. 



Since the deposit of bony matter often begins in that part of the 

 cartilage where it is attached to the coffin bone, the diseased process 

 may exist for some time before the bony growth can be seen or felt. 

 Later on, however, the cartilage can be felt to have lost its elastic 

 character, and by standing in front of the animal a prominence of the 

 coronary region at the quarters can be seen. Occasionally these 

 bones become so large as to bulge the hoof outward, and by pressing 

 on the joint they so interfere with locomotion that the animal becomes 

 entirely useless. 



Treatm,ent. — So soon as the disease can be diagnosed active treat- 

 ment should be adopted. Cold-water bandages are to be used for a 

 few days to relieve the fever and soreness. 



The improvement consequent on the use of these simple measures 

 often leads to the belief that the disease has recovered ; but with a 

 return to work the lameness, fever, etc., reappears. For this reason 

 the use of blisters, or, better still, the firing iron, should follow on the 

 discontinuance of the cold bandages. 



But in many instances no treatment will arrest the growth of these 

 bony tumors, and as a palliative measure neurotomy must be resorted 

 to. Generally this operation will so relieve the pain of locomotion 

 that the patient may be used for slow work ; but in animals used for 

 fast driving or for saddle purposes, the operation is practically use- 

 less. Some years ago I unnerved a number of cavalry horses at Fort 

 Leavenworth that were suffering from sidebones, and the records 

 show that in less than seven months all were more lame than ever. 



