PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF RING-BONE. 
611 
question ; secondly, because such change in position may lead to sprains 
of the ligaments of the joint. Observance of these precautions is of far 
greater value than any local treat¬ 
ment. In this way Moller often 
cured old-standing lameness, which 
had resisted every other method 
of treatment attempted. Cold 
poultices and absorbents are only 
of use on account of the rest they 
render necessary; in many cases 
the apparent success is due to 
errors in diagnosis. As long as 
inflammation of the ligaments or 
periosteum continues, stimulation 
of the skin may be successful. 
Cantharides and biniodide of mer¬ 
cury ointment, &c., are of little 
value unless rest is given. When 
possible, the patient should be 
kept quite quiet for four to six 
weeks. Failing success by these 
methods, firing may sometimes be 
successfullv resorted to. Puncture 
firing in two or three rows is 
most efficacious. Sometimes a few 
punctures over the swelling are 
sufficient. Of late years deep 
(needle)- firing has come to be re¬ 
garded as the most efficient means 
of dealing with ring-bone. Deep 
firing has been recommended in 
France, but care must be taken 
not to open the joint. For 
this purpose Dollar uses and 
strongly recommends Graillot’s 
zoo-cautery, or Dechery’s auto¬ 
matic cautery with fine points (see 
p. 121 of Yol. I. of this series, 
“ Operative Technique ”)• To 
secure the best results he pro¬ 
ceeds anfiseptically (vide loc. cit.). 
Periosteotomy has been suggested, 
but is of no real value. 
Fig. 231.— u, Internal plantar nerve, which, 
below the fetlock, divides into the anterior, 
middle, and posterior digital nerves ; w, oblique 
branch from internal to external plantar nerve; 
o, large metacarpal artery ; r, digital artery ; 
y, internal metacarpal vein, which, below the 
fetlock, is represented by the digital vein. 
R R 2 
