TREATMENT OF NAVICULAR DISEASE. 913 



inserting them. The point of the frog is first pared away, and a 

 twitch having been applied to the nose or ear, the needle, previously 

 threaded, is thrust into the hollow of the heel, through the plantar 

 cushion, so as to emerge near the point of the frog. The handle 

 is then removed, the needle drawn through the frog, and the ends of 

 the tape knotted together at the heel. The seton is left in position 

 twelve to fourteen days-, being moved daily to allow free discharge 

 of pus. Sometimes it is saturated with oil of turpentine. 



Recently at the Army Veterinary School, Aldershot, radium has 

 been tried by Major Newsome, in the treatment of a few cases of 

 navicular disease, and the results must be regarded as very 

 encouraging. The radium salt was placed in the frog over the 

 navicular region, and retained in position by a bandage. The affected 

 feet were exposed to radium emanations for periods of 90 to 168 

 hours, at intervals of five to seven days, and in every case immediate 

 relief followed the applications, though in some lameness recurred 

 when the animals resumed work. 



If other treatment fails, nothing remains but to perform neurec- 

 tomy — either plantar, or median with external plantar (see section 

 on " Ringbone "). Tenotomy proposed by Brauell and recommended 

 by Smith to assist adhesion of the perforans to the navicular bone, 

 has not proved successful. Moller doubts the utility of resection 

 of the flexor tendon, as in his hands it has usually left the horse either 

 permanently lame or has necessitated so long a rest as to be of no 

 practical service. 



A valuable carriage-horse, which had for a long time suffered from 

 navicular di.sease, contracted acute inflammation of the navicular bursa in 

 consequence of bruised sole. Operation was at once resorted to, and the 

 navicular bone and perforans tendon found to be chronically diseased. The 

 case did well, and the horse returned to work, but for several months 

 trotted slightly lame. 



Proper shoeing is of great importance, both in preventing and 

 treating this disease. In general, it is well to shorten the toes and 

 lengthen the heels, either by suitably paring the foot or by applying 

 leathers or shoes with thick heels. 



In marked contraction of the foot, indiarubber or cork pads or 

 long-heeled shoes may be employed. Defay's shoes sometimes 

 diminish lameness considerably ; their action is assisted by moderate 

 exercise on soft ground and by foot-baths (see Dollar and Wheatley's 

 " Handbook of Horse-shoeing "). 



