THE NAVICULAR-JOINT DISEASE. 165 



the coronet ; and where this is imperfect the horn or crust 

 will grow down divided, because the growth of horn pro- 

 ceeds from the coronary ligament. The mode of cure which 

 has been most successful in this crack, has been to draw the 

 heated cautery over the division of the coronet. This will 

 be followed with some degree of inflammation ; a scab will 

 form on the part, which in a few days will fall off, when it 

 will be found that no traces of the division will be visible, 

 and fresh and sound horn will speedily grow downwards. 

 When division of the horn at the coronet takes place, it 

 requires five or six months to effect a cure. When the 

 horn has grown downwards for an inch, the animal may be 

 turned out, taking care that the part is well defended by a 

 clambered pitch-plaster, which should be replaced by a new 

 one as often as it separates from the hoof. At the same 

 time a clambered shoe should be applied, but it must not 

 press upon the hoof immediately under the crack. Every 

 three weeks the shoe should be taken off and the sole care- 

 fully pared down. It sometimes happens that bulbous 

 projections are formed on the new horn. These should 

 be carefully pared off. During the time the horse is sub- 

 jected to surgical treatment for this complaint, he must 

 have perfect rest, otherwise the cure will undoubtedly be 

 protracted. 



In purchasing a horse, it is absolutely necessary to 

 examine with care the inner quarter of the feet, as it is 

 very common for low, unprincipled dealers to cover over 

 sand-cracks so neatly with pitch, and afterwards along the 

 whole hoof, that it is so completely concealed, as not to be 

 observable except by a narrow inspection 



THE J^AYICULAU-JOmT DISEASE. 

 Behind and beneath the lower pastern-bone, and behind 



