When the manner in which pain is occasioned is considered, it will be understood why lameness is intermittent in the early stages of this affection and may even be unnoticed by the driver. An animal may travel on a smooth road without giving evidence of any inconvenience, but as soon as a rough and irregular pavement or road surface is reached, will limp. As the subject is driven farther on level streets the lameness may disappear. This intermittent type of lameness may continue until there is developed a large exostosis, or until articular involvement causes so much distress during locomotion that lameness is constant. On the other hand, resolution may occur during the stage of periosteal inflammation, or, an exostosis forms which causes no interference with function. [Illustration: Fig. 18--Rarefying osteitis in chronic ringbone and ossification of lateral cartilages.] Before there is evidence of an exostosis, diagnosis of ringbone is not easy, for it is then a problem of detecting the presence of a ligamentous sprain, periostitis, or osteitis. The diagnostician should take note of local manifestations of hypersensitiveness, or heat if such exist, and, in addition, other conditions must be excluded before definite conclusions are possible. In _articular_ ringbone as soon as there is developed an exostosis, it occupies a position on the dorsal (anterior) part of the articulation and extends around the sides of the joint. _Periarticular_ ringbone is characterized by exostoses which are situated on the sides of the phalanges and not extending around to the anterior part of the joint. This type of ringbone as well as the articular may occur "high" or "low." [Illustration: Fig. 19--Phalangeal exostoses in chronic ringbone. Museum specimen of the Kansas City Veterinary College.] With the _traumatic_ form of ringbone, all consequences, as to the size and form the exostosis is to assume, depend upon the nature and extent of the injury. _Rachitic_ ringbone is frequently observed in some sections of the country and does not ordinarily cause much if any lameness. It is a disease of colts and may affect one or all of the phalanges at the same time. As the subject advances in age there is more or less diminution in the size of the enlargements.