FEACTURE OF THE BONES OF THE FORE EXTREMITY 



253 



excoriation and inHammatoiy softening, and failing in conse(|uence to give 

 the bone support, a fracture I'esults. It is no uncommon thing for rupture 

 of the tendon to follow upon fracture of the bone. 



Nails penetrating the frog have been noticed to cause fracture of this 

 bone, but such an occurrence is very rare indeed. 



Symptoms. — Evidence of fracture of the navicular bone is difficult 

 to ditferentiate from that severe inflammation of the navicular joint and 

 tissues of the foot which sooner or later follows upon neurectomy. A little 



Fig. 342. — Fr.acture of Navicular Bone 



\, Cretification of Superior Navicular Ligament. 

 B, Diseased Bone. 



Fig. 343. — Fracture of the Navicular Bone 



fulness in the hollow of the heel is first observed, w^hich on pressure is 

 somewhat yielding, and suggests the existence of deep-seated Huid. The 

 toe has a slight inclination upwards, and the fetlock joint is somewhat 

 depressed. Soon the coronet exhibits an abnormal fullness, and oozing 

 of serosity appears between hair and hoof. The coronal thin border of 

 the latter becomes white by saturation with serosity, and the horn com- 

 mences to separate from the skin, and soon the hoof sloughs, a result which 

 sooner or later follows upon fracture of the navicular bone. 



Of cour.se nothing in the.se ca.ses can be done with any pro.spect of 

 cure, and the better and more humane measure is to have the animal 

 destroyed. 



