298 HOW TO MAKE THE FAKM PAY. 



stases, can be so fiir subdued, as to preserve the usefulness of 

 the horse. This is not only economy, but mercy likewise. 

 Navicular Disease, so called, is a disease of the small bone, 

 forming the projection of the heel, and resting upon the frog. 

 Severe bruises upon the frog, by stones, frozen earth, and the 

 like, extend to this bone, and disease sets in. A horse appa- 

 rently sound, suddenly becomes lame in one of the fore feet. 

 No cause is discernible ; he points the toe out several inches, 

 whether standing or travelling ; in travelling the toe is made to 

 ' touch the ground before the heel; the horse favors that foot, at 

 all times; no enlargement, or inflammation, are discovered. 

 This is the first stage, and a cure is now wholly Avithin your 

 power, if you act at once. In the coursfe of a week or two, the 

 lameness, which was slight, disappears, and is forgotten, but ere 

 long it appears again, with renewed violence. There is now an 

 ulcer on the navicular bone, and, like an ulcerated tooth, is a 

 most painl'ul affliction; the horse is in agony ; every step is con- 

 centrated agony. The navicular bone begins to decay, the hoof 

 shrinks, and fracture of the bone, or rupture of the hoof, end 

 the usefulness of the animal. It often leads to rmgho7ie, foot 

 evil, narraiv heel, thrush, greasy heel, hoof rot, sand crack, and 

 other afflictions of the feet. As a prevention, the frog should 

 be kept from the ground by paring the frog, and by refraining 

 to pare down the hoof behind ; or, when necessary, putting 

 leather under the shoe at the back, as is recommended by 

 English farriers. 



The treatment, in the first stage of the disease, is simple 

 enough. Put the horse in the stable yard, or in the stable, if 

 it gives room for him to choose his own position at his pleasure. 

 Feed liberally of grain, to keep up the vigor of the body, soak 

 the foot an hour, in hot or warm water, every other night for a 

 fortnight, and apply the corrosive liniment the intervening 



