312 NAVICULAR DISEASE. 



the tendon ; and there is a great deal of motion oi play bo 

 tween them in the bending and extension of the pasterns. 



It is very easy to conceive that, from sudden concussion, or 

 trom rapid and overstrained motion, and that, perljaps, after the 

 animal has been sometime a trest, and the parts have not 

 adapted themselves lor motion, there may be too much play 

 between the bone and the tendon — the delicate membrane 

 which covers tlie bone, or the cartilage of the bone, may be 

 bruised, and inflamed, and destroyed ; that all the painful ellects 

 of an inflamed and opened joint may ensue, and the horse be 

 irrecoverably lame. Numerous dissections have shown that this 

 joint, formed by the tendon and the bone, has been the frequent, 

 and the almost invariable, seat of these obscure lamenesses. 

 The membrane covering the cartilage of the bone has been 

 found in an ulcerated state ; the cartilage has been ulcerated 

 and eaten away ; the bone has become carious or decayed, and 

 bony adhesions have taken place between the navicular and 

 the pastern and the coffin-bones, and this part of the foot has 

 often become completely disorganized and useless. This joint is 

 probably the seat of lameness, not only in well-formed feet, but 

 in those which become lame after contraction. 



The cure of navicular disease is difficult and uncertain. The 

 first and all-important point is, the removal of the inflammation 

 in this very susceptible membrane. Local bleeding, poulticing, 

 and physic will be our principal resources. If there is contrac- 

 tion, this must, if possible, be removed by the means already 

 pointed out. If there is no contraction, it Mdll nevertheless be 

 prudent to get rid of all surrounding pressure, and to unfetter, as 

 much as possible, the inside heel of the coffin-bone, by paring 

 the sole and rasping the quarters, and using the shoe without 

 nails on the inner quarter, and applying cold poultices to the 

 coronet and the whole of the foot. This is a case, however, 

 which must be turned over to the veterinary surgeon, for he 

 alone, from his knowledge of the anatomy of the foot, and the 

 precise seat of the disease, is competent to treat it. If attacked 

 on its earliest appeara,nce, and before ulceration of the mem- 

 brane of the joint has taken place, it m.ay be radically cured : 

 but ulceration of the membrane will be with difficulty healed, 

 and decay of the bone will for ever remain. 



Blistering the coronet will often assist in promoting a cure bj7 

 diverting the inflammation to another part, and it will materially 

 qui-'.ken the growth of the horn. A seton passed through the 

 frog by a skilful operator, and approacliing as nearly as possible 

 to the seat of disease, has been serviceable. 



Neurotomy (see p. 86) may be profitably resorted to in this 

 disease, but if the lameness is extreme, either with or withoyt 



