. NAVICULAR DISEASE. 341 



of lameness. When a mere habit, or arising from fatigue, the 

 animal stands with one fore foot and then the other in a semi- 

 flexed position, in a careless lounging fashion ; but he points two 

 limbs simultaneously ; that is to say, one fore and the hind limb 

 of the opposite side of his body. But in pointing from disease, 

 one foot only is pointed at a time ; and when one limb or foot 

 is diseased, that foot only ; when both fore feet, each foot alter- 

 nately. 



(2.) The positive signs. If, along with absence of other disease 

 in the foot or limb, there be the heat and tenderness upon pres- 

 sure at the hollow of the heel, or the redness of the sole already 

 spoken of, these may be looked upon as positive signs. Many 

 veterinarians, by exercising great pressure upon the heel and 

 violently flexing the pastern, cause the horse to show signs of 

 pain, which they consider sufficient to denote navicular lame- 

 ness ; but the severe way in which some make this examination 

 is sufficient of itself to cause the pain, and even to aggravate 

 any other disease in the limb. I have for a long time ceased to 

 have faith in this method of manipulation, and for the reason 

 that many horses wdll wince upon pressure, no matter where 

 the lameness may exist, and content myself with the action of 

 the horse, which may be looked upon as furnishing the most 

 positive sign. 



A horse suffering from this lameness comes out of the 

 stable after an interval of quietude stiff and lame ; he may be 

 scarcely able to put his lame foot to the ground, but after he 

 has been exercised for a short time, particularly if the ground 

 be soft, the great lameness disappears. If he be lame in both 

 feet, his step is short and stilty, and he seems rigid and 

 bound by some stiffness of the muscles of the chest and 

 shoulders. On this account our forefathers called the disease 

 "chest-founder." There is nothing, however, wrong with the 

 shoulders or chest, and the peculiar rigidity of movement and 

 shortness of step are thus explained: — Xst. The shortness, be- 

 cause the pain felt in the foot implanted on the ground causes 

 the animal to relieve it as soon as possible by bringing down 

 the other foot, just as a man lame in both feet is compelled to 

 take short steps whilst walking. 2d. The stiffness arises from 

 an aversion to all movement on the part of the sufferer, because 

 flexion of the foot excites pain in the bursa. He also naturally 



