300 CYCLOPEIrlA OF LIVE STOCK AND COMPLETE STOCK DOCTOR. 



The tendon is inflamed, sore and swolen ; the inflammation extends to 

 the joint and from that to the bone, Avliich becomes rough and porous 

 from having its fatty portion al)sorbed. The edge sometimes gets so 

 sharp and rough as to saw through the tendon. This will let the fetlock 

 down onto the ground, and the toe will turn up. 



Causes. — It is caused by a very severe sprain of the tendon in its lower 

 portion ; any severe bruise on the frog or heels ; the prick of a nail en- 

 tering the foot far enough to wound the tendon or joint ; or it might be 

 caused by great contraction, the hoof pressing on the ends of the navi- 

 cular bone, interrupting nutrition, thereby setting up disease. 



How to know it. — There will be lameness of a peculiar kind. In the 

 earlier stages the horse will go out quite lame, from a dryness of the 

 joint, but will improve as he goes farther, though not so as to go sound ; 

 for the tendon being injured it would be impossible for the lameness to 

 disappear altogether with exercise. He Avill wear the shoes most at the 

 toes, will point the feet when standing, alternating them if both are af- 

 fected, and rest them on the toes. 



As the disease progresses, the gait becomes short, and the horse is liable 

 to stumble, going too much on his toes, forming lameness known as 

 groggy lameness. 



Upon pressure of the thumb down into the hollow of the pastern, be- 

 tween the heels, tenderness will be noticed, and usually some swelling ; the 

 hollow will be tilled up, and the pastern will be straightened up, nearer 

 the perpendicular than is natural, and the knees will soon begin to go 

 over. 



What to do.— When the first symptoms are noticed, viz : slight lame- 

 ness, with inclination to stumble, going out a little lame and soon warm- 

 ing out of it, tenderness to pressure in the hollow of the pastern and to 

 tapping on the frog and heels, take off the shoes, pare out the feet well, 

 open the heels, reduce the frog a little, and put on a wide-webbed, open 

 shoe with the heels raised half an inch, to take off the bearino- from the 

 heels and frog, and to relieve the tension on the tendon. Then put the 

 foot into a hot, soft, linseed poultice ; change it once a day, and continue 

 it right along for a couple of weeks. 



If matter should show itself anywhere, you may be sure you have 

 made a mistake in the disease. The matter must come from a nail or a 

 corn, for matter never shows itself in navicular disease. Trace the pus, 

 if any, to its origin, and treat it as prescribed for Pricks from Nails, and 

 Corns. 



After ten days or a fortnight, if the horse is better, take off the poul- 

 tice and apply a fly blister to the hollow of the pastern, if it is swollen ; 



