Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner., 1921-03-18
VETERINARY ADVICE
By Dr., II. d. Lniker. Hope, Arkans. ;
Ringbone-Growth Of Bony Tum =
on the Ankle (Horses.)

Ring Oh bOny 1uM-
on the Ankle (Horses.
The bony tunior which is respons-
ible for ringbone is not the diseaae
but the result OF infiammatory acti i
set up in the reriosteum and boz
tissue proper. Injuries. such a.
blows, sprains, overwork in yopi.s
animals, fast work on hard road +.
jumping. etc. are the chief cause
of ringbone. Horses having sho.t
upright pasterns are most easily SUI
ject to ringbone, since the shock oi
bearing their weight and movis. :
rapidly on hard ground is not abso
bed in the forelegs OF these anima.i
Improper shoeing such IA: the ~
o. high ealks. too grea. shortii
the toe and cor-e'pondingly his
,e Increases the concussion tc IL
feet and renders tie 3ni.na. suscel
ible to this disease.
Symptoms.
The first symptoms OF ringbone
the appearance of lameness more o
less acute. II the bony tumor form
on the side or the uper parts of IL
large pastern, its growth is generaii.
unattended with acute infiammatory
action and consequently produces h
lameness or evident fever. Thece
are called false" ringbones. But
when the tumors form on the whole
circumference of the ankle, or sin
ply in front under the extensor ten
don, or behind under the fiexor' ten
dons, or If they involve the joint
between the two pastern bones. o.
between the small pastern and the
coffin bone. the lameness is always
severe. These constitute the true
ingbone. Besides lameness, the
ankle of the affected limb presents
more or less heat. and in many in
stances rather firm, the limited
swelling of the deeper tissues oyei
the seat of the infiammatory process,
The lameness of ringbone is charae-
teristic in that the heel is first pla-
'ced on the ground when the disease
is in a foreleg. and the ankle is kept
as rigid as possible. In the hind
leg, however, - the toe strikes the
ground first, when the ringbone Is
high on the ankle, Just as In health,
but the ankle = is maintained in q
rigid position. If the bony growth
ia under the front tendon of the
mind leg. or If 1t involves the coffin
ioint the heel Is brought to the
ground first In the early stages Oh
the disease 1t is not always easy to
diagnose ringbone, but when the de-
posits have reached some size they
can be felt and seen as well.
Treatment.
Before the bony growth has COM
menced, the infiammatory rocess may
he cut short by the use of cold
baths and wet bandages, followed by
one OF more blisters. If the bony
deposits have begun, the firing iron
should always be used. Even where
the tumors are large and the pastern
Joint involved, firing often hastens
the process of anchylosis and should
always be tried.
Where the lower joint is involved.
or when the tumor interferes With
the action of the tendons recovery Is
not to be expected. In many cases
of these latter cases, however, the
animal may be made serviceable by
proper shoeing. If the horse walks
with the toe on the ground the foot
should be shod with high heeied
shoe and a short toe. On the other
hand. If he walks on the heel.a thick
toed and thin -heeled shoe must be
worn.
Since ringbene is considered to be
one of the hereditary diseases, no
animal suffering from this trouble
should ever be used for breeding
purposes.