376 
THE VETERINARY SCIENCE 
joint is gone, and there is not quite as free action as before 
the leg was affected, but the horse will be very useful for 
years after. In order to obtain a really clear idea of this, 
examine a cured ringbone, after the horse dies. An idea of 
how the bones unite may be clearly obtained in this manner. 
In all cases first pare the foot down to its natural shape, and 
cut the toe off very short and keep it cut short afterward. 
This throws the strain off the jomt. Cut the hair, if long, off 
the enlargement and blister with 
Biniodide of Mercury 2 drams. 
Vaseline or Lard 1 ounce. 
Mix well together. This is sufficient to blister an 
ordinary ringbone two or three times. Apply one-third of 
the blister and rub in thoroughly — the more you rub the 
better it will work — and grease the third day after blistering. 
Continue blistering every four weeks until cured, following 
the same directions as before. Each time before blistering, 
wash the parts with warm water and soap. If, in the course 
of a few months, this does not help him, "fire" him. Use the 
same kind of firing iron as that used in 
firing a spavin. Place a twitch on his 
nose. While one of the front legs is 
held up, burn all around the ringbone 
in streaks— running up and down — 
three-quarters of an inch apart. (See 
Fig. 43.) Don't burn too severely, only 
enough to leave a white seam after the 
iron. In doing this take time and do 
not bear heavily on the iron. After fir- 
ing allow it to remain for six days and 
blister the same as above mentioned, 
following the same directions. It may 
be necessary to cast him during this 
operation. Do not become discouraged 
if not better immediately, as it gener- 
ally takes from six months to a year, 
and even longer in bad cases to effect a 
cure. Treat a colt exactly the same, 
only not quite so severely, varying 
treatment according to the size. 
6. Bone Spavin. ^'s- 
A spavin is a disease affecting the 
bones of the hock joint, which generally results in a bony 
-Method of "Firing" 
a Ringbone. 
