478 
LAMENESS IN HORSES. 
spread, and implicates the cavity of the joint in inflammation. It 
is any thing but uncommon to see the pastern joint in a state of 
anchylosis from ringbone ; and in the different veterinary museums 
preparations enough will be found of the coffin joint from the spread 
of ossification being anchylosed as well. Any portion, however, 
of the exostosis which might occupy the lower half of the coronet 
bone would be included within the coronary substance (or coronary 
ligament ), in which situation it might probably not come under the 
denomination of ringbone. 
But, without reference to its situation, a ringbone may be large 
or small. There will likewise, as already has had allusion made 
to it, be found variations in the form of the tumour. Very often, 
instead of being complete, the segment of the ring is defective. 
There exists tumour on either side of the pastern without any per- 
ceptible prominence in the middle, between the lateral eminences. 
Again, the tumour may be circumscribed or isolated. All this, 
however, we repeat, in nowise affects our prognosis or treatment 
save in so far as the joint, above or below, becomes a participator 
in the disease. 
The Horses especially disposed to Ringbone are those 
that have short upright pasterns, and from their low breed are 
coarse and fleshy legged, the bones of such horses being more dis- 
posed to exostosis. It was a knowledge of this fact that led Gibson 
to make the remark, “ when a fine high-bred horse happens to 
have a ringbone, we may conclude it to proceed from some acci- 
dent rather than from any natural fault* by which he appears 
to have meant, predisposition. 
The Causes of Ringbone may be said to be of three kinds, 
hereditary, structural, and incidental. Our attention was first 
drawn to the hereditary origin of ringbone from a remark made by 
an extensive dealer in horses resident in the north of England, in 
reply to a question put to him, how it happened that but few ring- 
bones were now met with compared to the number that attracted 
notice in times past I The reply was, “ Because no breeder of 
horses now-a-days will send a mare to a horse having ringbones.” 
There appeared something like reason and truth in this ; and we 
felt more inclined to attach faith to it when we came to read in 
Solleysell’s workt, “ The ringbone is sometimes hereditary ; though 
it is usually occasioned by a strain taken in curvetting, bounding 
turns, and violent galloping or racing.” 
That form , as well as breed, is concerned in the production of 
ringbone, we have sufficient practical demonstration. A coarse 
or half-bred, fleshy or bony-legged horse, with short and upright 
* Gibson’s “ New Treatise on the Diseases of Horses.” 2d edit. p. 268. 
t “Compleat Horseman.” Hope’s Translation. 2d edit, part ii, p. 122. 
