THE 
VETERINARIAN. 
VOL. XXI, 
No. 249. 
SEPTEMBER 1848. 
Third Series, 
No. 9. 
LAMENESS IN HORSES. 
By William Percivall, M.R.C.S. and V.S. 
[Continued from page 425.] 
Ringbone. 
THE disease we are about to treat on will be found to be another 
form of exostosis , or rather exostosis in another situation, and can 
only be regarded as “ a disease of joint” in so far as it has con- 
nexion, direct or indirect, with any joint; though this will be found 
to be generally the case whenever lameness is a consequence, and 
sometimes where such is not perceptible. 
Definition. — The appellation of ringbone is applicable to any 
osseous tumour upon the pastern bone, but with the greatest pro- 
priety to that which takes on the form of a ring round the bone : 
a shape which any continuous osseous deposit is likely to assume 
from the circumstance of its substratum being the rotund surface 
of a cylinder. 
The ordinary Site of Ringbone is the pastern bone. It is 
possible, however, but a rare occurrence, for it to be confined to 
the coronet bone. It occurs more frequently upon the hind than 
upon the fore leg. And mostly we find the tumour approximating 
the pastern joint ; and where such is the case, and the deposition 
of callus proceeds, we perceive the tumefaction gradually creeping 
over this joint, involving as well the bones above and below, 
more or less in the disease. Sometimes the tumour occupies the 
middle of the pastern bone, having no immediate connexion with 
any joint. Rarely is it seen sufficiently high upon the pastern to 
disturb the fetlock-joint. 
Kinds of Ringbone. — These various sites of exostosis have 
given rise to distinctions into high ringbone and low ringbone ; the 
latter being the common or ordinary kind. Such distinctions, how- 
ever, can serve little practical purpose, save in so far as, being high 
or low, the ossification involves the pastern or fetlock-joint in its 
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