Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-11-22

Ringbone in Horses

Ringbone, as its name indicates, consists
of ring or circle of bony matter extending
round the cornet Most commonly it is laid
down around the lower part of the large
pastern bone, but in all bad cases the small
pastern bone is likewise involved. The
swelling is very distinctive and can hard
ly be mistaked for anything else. 1t is hard
and unyielding, and although at first occur
ing in separate points, it gradually extends
round the sides and front of the coronet.-
Sometimes it passes downwards, implica-
ting the lateral cartilages, and constitut-
ing sidebone. 1t is always apt to increase,
especially when the horse continues at work
on the road, and sometimes becomes of
large size, interfering with the movements
of the Joints. Out of the $50 ossifc diseas-
es in the region of the fetlock, Mr.. Percival
found sixty-three cases of complete anchy-
iosis including five of the fetlock joint, forty
of the pastern joint, and eighteen of the
coffin Joint whilst the remainder consisted
OF bony incrustations of various degrees of
severity. When the horse is much used on
the stones during the early development of
ringbone, the fetlock is apt to become hot
and tender, and the animal goes lame. In
the large proportion of cases the bony mat
tor, however, is laid down gradually with
out causing much pain or any notable lame
ness. A certain degree of stiffness is, how
ever, usually observable. Whether caus-
ing lameness or not, ringbone constitutes
unsoundness. AS it is apt to be hereditary,
animals with such exostoses should be
avoided for breeding purposes.
Like most other rony deposits, ,ringbones
generally result from concussion. When
this is frequent or continued, inflammation is
set up in the periosteum and underlying
bone, giving rise to the outpouring of plas-
tic lymph, which is gradually converted in
to bone. The jar is obviously greatest
where the pasterns are short and upright
aud underbred animals of such conforma-
tion furnish large proportion of cases Of
ringbone. 1t is common, in the fore limbs
Of heavy horses, and of high-stepping hack
and carriage horses but it likewise occurs
in the hind limbs particularly of the light
cr description of horses. Prof Spooner
states that horses with small feet are espe-
cially subject to ringbone. From blow,
tread, or other such injury, inflammation of
the periosteum is sometimes established,
leading, like the cOncussion of hard work
to bony deposits. When depending upon
such cases, ringbone is apt to be confined
to one limb.
A deposit of bone once formed, cannot be
removed by any treatment short of excis-
ion. When, therefore an old ringbone has
become hard and unyelding it had better
be left alone, especially if it be free from
tenderness, and does not cause lameness
Irritants may re-excite inflammation, and in
crease the evil. A ringbone of recent
growth in which the newly, formed deposit
is yet soft and spongy, may, however, be
greatly reduced by simple remedies. Any
tenderness of heat should be combatted by
soothing measures, such as cold wet slabs,
total immunity from work, half dose of
opening medicine, and laxative cooling di-
ct. After few days, when the parts are
becoming cool, some ointment Of the red
iodine of mercury should be well rubbed in,
and the blister repeated several times at
intervals Of a week or ten days Firing is
often resorted to, but has the disadvantage
Of blemishing, and is not more ef1ectual
than the iodide of mercury ointment. After
the first days rest, unless the limb is hot
and tender, moderate farm work on the soft
land will do no harm. When the horse
goes to work, his shoes must be light and
nicely fitted whilst the jar may besides be
somewhat abated by the use of leather soles.
-Engtlsh paper.