176 COMMON DISEASES. 



Occasionally there appears what is known as a pegged splint, in 

 which the growth extends across the back of the cannon, beneath 

 the suspensory ligament. 



The lameness which results from splints is rather easily 

 recognized, first, by locating the splint, noting the sensitiveness 

 on pressure over this point. A peculiarity of the lameness is 

 that the horse walks nearly or quite sound, but trots very lame, 

 especially on hard ground. 



There is a natural tendency to recover. Lameness from 

 splints is rarely seen in aged horses for this reason. 



When the splint appears very close to the knee, or in the peg- 

 ged form there is less prospect of natural recovery, and with the 

 latter form lameness is very apt to be permanent, unless relieved 

 by surgical means. 



Ringbone. — This is characterized by enlargement of some 

 portion of the pastern bones. It may be in front, behind, on 

 either side or extending entirely around this region. It may be 

 located near the crown of the hoof or very much higher, and we 

 thus have ringbone divided artificially into two classes, high and 

 low. 



Ringbones are very much more serious forms of unsound- 

 ness than splints, as they are more apt to be permanent in effect 

 and even if the soreness be relieved there is liable to be- a me- 

 chanical lameness because of a stiffened joint. This unsoundness 

 and the lameness resulting from it are very easilv detected. 



Sidebones. — Sidebones is an abnormal condition of the lateral 

 cartilages, characterized by a firmness under pressure of these 

 cartilages — which should be quite elastic. The firmness is due 

 primarily to a deposit of lime in the cartilage structure. Sidebones 

 are detected as bone-like structures which appears above the 

 crown of the hoof and just beneath the skin on either side. Thev 

 usually cause lameness during the period of inflammation and 

 hardening. In some cases the lameness is persistent. 



Spavin. — The cause of lameness which we recognize under 

 the name'of bone spavin is an abnormal condition of the tarsal 

 bones at the lower, inner, front portion of the hock. There is 

 usually something of an enlargement, varying from a very small 

 growth, commonly called by horsemen a jack, to a very large 

 growth which every one recognizes as bone spavin. 



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