Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-03-28

union of the bones which had formed it,
and others where the periostetis was con-
fined entirely to the upper pastern, leaving
the joint free from any affection, in which
case the animal will not be very lame.
Those who say ringbone cannot be
cured will sometimes find themselves in
error, and those who say they have cured
them, will find themselves equally so. If
the disease has gone on to the involving
of the lower joint they will not cure it; if
it is confined to the upper pastern it may
be cured. Ringbone often results from
some accidental injury, as blow or inju-
ry on the part, mechanical injury; many
from hard usage, rs from savcre and long
continued drawing up hill when the horse
throws so much force on his toe, trying to
ret his foot hold and draw the load. This
giving a severe shock on the membrane
lining the joint will soon produce irrita-
ton, next inflammation of the parts, then
comes the deposit of bony matter within
the tibro- cartilage which makes lameness
with very slight enlargement of the
parts. Causalion of ringbone, or certain
types of it, may he hereditary, as we find
rheumatism hereditary scrotulous con-
dition of system, aggravated by not being
half kept or cared for, stabbed in some
cold, damp place, will tend to initiate the
disease; and long continued will tend to
develop and transmit it. Animals show
iny incipient ringbone from rheumatoid
trouble about the joint, should have pure
air, dry atmosphere, be kept warm, Civ
en moderate exercise, which will give
healthy blood, necessary for forming good
bone, good muscle and IL good horse.
The pathology of ringbone may be
briefly noticed in an increase of blood in
the parts, surcharging the capillary YES
sells, followed by Inflammation and exuda-
ton, producing an enlargement, soft at
first, but after time ending in n bony ex-
crcsence and permanent blemish.
In the first stages of watery inliltration
and swelling, the treatment should be Il
cooling lotion, cold water salt and water
or better, saltpetcr and water, then the
bandagc wound very tightly, (always be-
ginning ut the bottom, and winding up)
but taking it off when you lead the horse
out for water or exercise, showering thor
oughly with cold water, then rubbing off
dry and again putting on the bandage.
The horse should have rest and quiet; and
keeping loose in box stall is better than
hitching in a narrow one, for II little mo-
ton is better than absolute quiet, tending
to promote absorption in short the same
treatment you would apply TO your own
hand. Tincture of iodine would assist
absorption, and decolorized iodine was to
be preferred to the common tincture, and
conld be made by putting in bottle, tine
ture iodine two parts, and aqua ammonia
one part; placing it in the sun, it will in II
short time give you II solution of iodine
clear as water, which may be used with
increased advantage, rs the ammonia
gives stimulant in addition to the alb
sorbent, and is especially valuable in Il
passive inflammation In cases Of run
ming sores of an old scrofuous type, Lu-
CALLS solution is excellent, which is So
luton of iodine in II solution Of iodine of
potash.
Blistering could be produced by tinctue
of iodine, which could be made sharper if
desired by addition of cantharides and
spirits of turpentne. Thus, treatment in
first stages should be rest, cooling lotions,
laudanum, oils spike, organum or anise,
nothing of heating nature; bandage
while at rest; when exercising take of the
bandage. shower with cold water, rub
down dry and bandage again.
If by this treatment the trouble is not
gotten rid of, and the emulation absorbed,
the process will 60 on and the treatment
then is to hasten it, which may be done by
sharp blstering, which greatly increases
and intcnsiies the inflammation and perfect
anchylosis take place, consolidating the
bones, celebrating the joint, thus curing
the lameness and easing the suffering of
the animal by doing in II few weeks what
it would have taken months to perform.
The idea of causation of ringbone DIFF
fers in different localities; in one town it
would be from leakage Of the joint" in
the next it would be fed from IL little blad
der, which must be cut out. This cutting
would effect Il cure us would bistering or
burning, by increasing the inflammation
and Fastening anchylosis.
If you have nice colt four months old,
with well defined ringbones on each side
on all his feet don't let some quack oper-
ate on him and spoil him for it is no ring
bone at all, but broad, well,dcveloped
Joint, an anatomical indication Of thorough
breeding.
NJ. a. r a,