290 PRINCIPLES OF VETERINARY SCIENCE 



and is necessary for complete ankylosis. The horse should be 

 shod with a high-heeled shoe to take the strain off the front of 

 the joint. 



RING-BONE 



Ring-bone, like bone spavin, results in an exostosis, but occurs 

 in the region of the large and small pastern bones (Fig. 74). 

 The bones of the fore limbs are more frequently affected than 

 those of the hind. There are unilateral and bilateral, high and 

 low, and articular and non-articular ring-bones, depending on 

 their exact location and extent. 



Causes. — These are most often of a mechanical nature. Long 

 sloping, or short upright pasterns, predispose to- ring-bone 

 formation. 



Symptoms. — Lameness is the most evident symptom. Later, 

 a hard swelling develops, over which the skin is freely movable. 

 The horse "points" when standing and shows a well-marked 

 stiffness in the affected leg when moving. 



Treatment. — This will depend on the character of the ring- 

 bone; generally it is the same as for spavin. Here, as in similar 

 cases where the actual cautery, is applied, it must be deferred 

 until acute inflammation has subsided. By trimming colts' feet 

 regularly, and shoeing older horses so as to straighten the foot's 

 axis, many cases can be prevented. As a last resort unnerving 

 may be tried. 



SPLINT 



Splint is a form of exostosis appearing on the fore leg below the 

 knee. It results in an ankylosis between the cannon and splint 

 bones. It is found in about 70 per cent, of all adult horses; in 93 

 per cent, of these it is said to occur on the inner side. It is 

 pathologic only in degree, for all horses show a tendency to union 

 of the splint and cannon bones as they are continually rubbing 

 together. Fortunately the lameness resulting is very slight and 

 transitory, or may not be noticeable at all. Sprints may be 

 either single or double. The so-called "pegged " splint, a form in 

 which the growth extends across the posterior surface of the 

 metacarpus, is more serious and interferes with the play of the 

 suspensory ligament. Splints causing no lameness are considered 

 to be blemishes only and require no treatment. Others are 

 treated according to the directions given for spavin and ring-bone. 



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