RINGBONE

New Zealand Mail, 29 January 1902, Page 57

RINGBONE

“What is a ringbone ?” It is a term tiiat has been applied from time immemorial to indicate chronio enlargements about the coronary joint, and for practical purposes ringbone is an exostosis, or deposit of bone on bone, of the same character as splint and spavin, differing from tliem mainly in situation. v ,

The seat of ringbone is the upper and lower pastern bones, and it probably received this name from the deposit often taking the form of a ring around the osseous structures involved. This feature is not constant, but tho name is retained just the same, although the deposit may he confined to a small portion only of the pastern.

Modern veterinary surgeons differentiate between several forms or varieties of ringbone, and attribute them to different- causes, but the old-fashioned description of true and false and high and low ringbone will serve our purpose better than modern technical distinctions. Unless of great size, or during the incipient stage, when it may cause some lameness from "local inflammation, “false” ringbone is not of great importance, for it is situated about the middle of or on the body of either the upper or lower pastern bones, and does not affect or interfere with the joints. True ringbone is altogether another and more serious matter. It is a- decided unsoundness, particularly in the case of horses that have to work at a fast pace on hard roads, and is often the cause of great and permanent lameness. True ringbone may be either high or low, and interfere with the movements of either the pastern or the coffin joints. In some extreme cases, where there exists a tendency to bony deposit, or a bony diathesis, as it lias been called, both forms may be present in the same animal. To be able to properly appreciate what ringbone is like in appearance, and to form an idea of the extent of the DEPOSIT OF BOXY MATERIAL that often takes place, it- is necessary to see prepared specimens. The senses of sight and toucli on which we have to depend for the detection of ringbone in the living subject, unless the Rontgen rays are employed, convey a most inadequate impression as compared with what can be gathered from a specimen freed from the soft tissues. Unless the exostosis is well developed, the detection cf ringbone is often very difficult, for the degree of lameness is in no way dependent on the extent of the deposit ; indeed, great- lameness often precedes the palpable deposit of osseous material. The lameness is generally greatest during the active inflammatory stage, and may be permanent when the joint is involved, or until anchylosis takes place, and stiffness or mechanical lameness succeeds that due to pain—a kind of lameness which the- veterinary surgeon apparently recognises better than the inspector of the E.S.P.C.A. or tlie average Justice of the Peace, who can rarelv he got to appreciate that a horse may he lame and yet not in pain. If the deposit can be detected, the cause of the lameness may be assumed, but before its development it may be mistaken for several other diseases of the feet, and a careful and expert, examination is necessary to determine its presence or absence. Something may be learned from the style of going, and Professor Williams tells us that the gait of the horse lame from ringbone presents the following characteristics: “If in a fore extremity, except the deposit be on the posterior aspect, the horse puts his heel to the ground first; hut when in the hind pastern, the toe touches the ground first always when it is situated in the upper position, except it be in front; when in the lower position the heel comes down first.” Ringbone lameness increases with exercise or work, and is always „more pronounced on hard ground. “What is the cause of ringbone?” A blow in the region of the pastern is said to ho capable of setting it up, hut sprain and concussion are the most frequent causes. The reason why ringbone is oftener found in the hind pasterns than in the front is the violent action of the hind limbs in propelling the body forward, and the shocks the hind pasterns receive in galloping and jumping. The cases tlrft occur in young, unbroken horses—and they are very common—doubtless ariso from this cause.

“IS IT HERDITARY?” ■F° dou bt> in common with other ossmo diseases, it is hereditary. Very often mares useless for town purposes are bought by farmers to work on the land, and are set to breed a foal, the hereditary predisposition being conveniently ignored. The tendency to sprains that may cause ringbone is, of course, accentuated by defective conformation ? lld lu ”erited weakness. With regard to these defects, ringbone is most commonly met with in horses with very long pasterns, where there is naturally a tendency to weakness. It is also found in animals with unduly short upright pasterns, in which formation there is a tendency to excessive concussion, and by some authorities ringbone is regarded as an effort of nature to strengthen weak parts. “WHAT IS THE TREATMENT ?” It should always begin with the reduction of inflammation, and in recent cases causing lameness there should he no rubbing in of embrocations or stimulating liniments, and no blistering or firing as long as there is any considerable heat and pain. At this stage rest and cooling lotions of cold water bandages are indicated. Rest is of great importance, and it is rare t-liat a sufficiently long cessation from work is afforded. After the inflammation has abated, blistering with a cantharidcs and ■ bitnouide of mercury ointment may be tried, and if blistering fails, then resort may be had to firing. In cases of false ringbone, or where young horses at grass develop an exostosis on one or mare pasterns, they are generally best kit alone, or a trial made of the ointment of iodine to promote absorption of some of the deposit.

In chronic cases much may be done by special shoeing to make the horse workabiy sound, and cases arc constantly met with that fall lame directly there is any want of attention to the shoes. It is not possible to prescribe shoes for all cases, and where the blacksmith is inexpert or inexperienced, horses suffering from ringbone should be shod under veterinary supervision. Care must be taken to observe how the animal puts the foot to the ground, and to follow this indication, the hoof should be carfeully prepared to allow the weight to be distributed regu-. larly in the coffin joint.. The parts of the wall which first meet the giound when moving should therefore be shortened. Thorough’attention must bo directed to the sides of the wall, the bearing of the toe consider ed, and over-long heels shortened. Mr Dollar recommends that in shoeing horses with ringbone ,the toe of the shoe be strengthened and wedge-heels used instead of calkins. He says: “This is best effected by letting in a piece of steel at the toe, by draying up a strong toechp, and by Tolling,’ or rounding off the toe. The heels should be so high as just to touch the ground when the horse is standing level on all. four feet. I lie shoe must be broad in the web, and take a good hold of the toe.” What is wanted is to ensure a level tread. In cases of permanent lameness —and they are by no means uncommon in ringbone in the articular form—the only thing is unnerving. This is the most successful in ringbone, and free from several of the unpleasant sequelae which mark its practise for the relief of lameness m advanced navicular arthritis