The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1905-04-01
STOCK
Ring-bone and SPAWN.
&C. l.. Barnes.)

JOINT. In1S enlargement is nara, D0lnS
a growth of bone, and in many cases
forms complete ring, hence the
name. A ring-bone has a tendency to
continue growing, and in rare cases
attains the size of mans hand.
The causes are conditions which
favor sprains, such as fast driving
over hard or uneven roads, unequal
pairing of the hoof, thus causing the
weight to be unequally distributed in
the joints, and severe labor in early
life. In addition to these may be men
toned blows, bruises, or any injuries
to tendons, ligaments, or joints. There
is no doubt that colts inherit pre-
disposition to ring-bOnes.
Just as soon as the covering of the
bone is bruised a liquid is poured out
in the region of the injury. This in
fiammatory liquid hardens and forms
the uneven growth known as ring
bone. If the covering of the bone con-
tinues to be inflamed more growth is
formed Before the ring-bone has be-
come chronic the disease passes I'M
noticed. If the abnormal growth of
bone is between the bones of joint
or it tends to injure ligaments or
tendons when they are moved, ring
bone is very painful. On the other
hand, ring-bone may be very large
and not cause very much annoyance,
from the fact that it may not inter
fere with the free movement of liga-
ments or tendons or encroach on the
gliding surface of a joint. In addition
to the growth that can be readily
seen, a horse afflicted with ring-bone
is very lame when first taken out of
I,.I f<,1 fNxx
hundred yards gradually "works out
of the lameness," as horsemen call
it, but when allowed to stand and be-
come cool and is then moved again,
the lameness reappears.
Preventive treatment consists in
keeping horses feet trimmed properly
not overworking colts while young,
careful driving on hard and uneven
roads, and avoiding all injuries that
are liable to strain tendons, liga
ments and joints of the limbs.
Even after a ring-bone has developed
it may be cured by proper treatment
of the feet, and applying fly plaster
The fly plaster is prepared by mixing
thoroughly one ounce of pulverized
cantharides, one ounce of biniOdide
of mercury and eight ounces of lard.
Inc Halt is Cuppou OVeI IH0 ring
bone and the blister applied with con-
siderable rubbing. The horses head
should be tied so as to avoid his biting
the part blistered A second appli-
cation of the blister is to be used
about a month after the first. If
blistering fails to cure the ring-bone,
point-firing may be resorted to. 1t is
necessary to "fire" rather deeply to
secure good results. care being taken
not to fire into the joint. After firing,
a fly blister should be rubbed into the
holes where the hot iron has been
used.
When all these methods have failed
and the animal is not worth keeping
for a long and uncertain treatment,
a skilled veterinarian should be en-
nloyed to perform an operation for the
removal of the nerves supplying the
limb in the region of the ringbone.
After a horse has been operated on
great care should be taken of his
feet from the fact that there is no
feeling in the foot operated on and
serious results may come from STEP
ming on nails etc, and carving them
for manv days before the driver would
notice the foreign bodies.
Spavin known in common language