NEAR SIDE 



Pointing the Toe— a case of Navicular. 



which do their work on the roads, and usually commences at 



the spot at the back of the foot 

 where the tendon passes over the 

 navicular bone. It only appears 

 on the fore - feet, and usually 

 amongst horses with contracted 

 heels and upright pasterns, which 

 are naturally more affected by 

 concussion than better-shaped ones 

 are ; but no doubt bad shoeing is 

 responsible for its share of cases. 

 Symptoms. — The horse com- 

 mences by pointing his toe with 

 the tip on the ground, so as to 

 get the weight of his body off his 

 heel, thus acting in a manner ex- 

 actly contrary to that adopted in 

 cases of laminitis. The symptoms 

 of lameness appear when he is 

 trotted on a hard road, and he often stumbles, especially 

 when going down a hill. The foot is very sensitive, though 

 not particularly hot, and gives the appearance of shrinking 

 in size. 



Treatment. — Remove the shoes and pare away the walls 

 of the hoof so as to allow the frog to come down on the 

 ground. Apply cold poultices at first, and then keep the 

 horse standing on damp clay, the litter of his night box 

 being of moss litter, or some such cooling substance. When 

 better, the coronet should be blistered, and then the horse 

 may be turned out for a month or three weeks on ground 

 that is soft and damp. In obstinate cases it may become 

 necessary to perform the operation of neurotomy, but this 

 is not to be recommended if it can possibly be avoided. 

 (See Blistering, Clay Bedding, Hoofs, Laminitis^ Neurotomy, 

 Sponge Pad.) 



Near Side. — The left side of a horse or road. 



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