NAVICULAR DISEASE. 351 



may be brought together by suture, pin, or bandage, the latter 

 being preferable, as leaving less blemish. It is usual, when 

 both legs are to be operated upon, to perform the operation on 

 the one lying undermost, of course dividing the inner nerve, 

 and upon the outer side of the upper leg, before turning the 

 animal. When the operation is completed, the patient is 

 allowed to rise, removed to the stable, and there tied, so that 

 he cannot lie down or interfere with the wovmds for three or 

 four days. If pins or sutures have been inserted, a covering 

 of styptic colloid or collodion may be applied after the slight 

 haemorrhage has ceased ; after this is done, if the parts are not 

 interfered with, it will be found that they will unite by the 

 adhesive process. 



Unfavourable results of the Operation. — These are many, even 

 in well-selected cases. If the selections are not judicious, the 

 operation is calculated to do much harm, and to bring discredit 

 upon the practitioner. 



In determining whether it is judicious to operate or not, 

 the following rules must be borne in mind:— Is^. Never 

 operate on a very heavy, thick-legged cart-horse : 2d. Never 

 operate where the feet are thin, weak in the heels, full in the 

 sole, or otherwise exhibiting a predisposition to laminitis ; and M. 

 Operate only where the foot is good and strong, the animal's 

 action not too high, and the lameness otherwise incurable. 



The untoward results are fracture of the navicular bone, 

 rupture of the tendon, sloughing of the hoof, and a peculiar 

 gelatinous degeneration of the bursa, tendon, and surrounding 

 structures, along with the formation of a large quantity of a low 

 form of fibrous tissue. 



The first symptom of this degenerative process is a bulging, 

 doughy, or elastic swelling in the hollow of the heel ; the ani- 

 mal at the same time going upon the heel more than usual, 

 and the toe slightly elevated at every step it takes. This 

 peculiarity of gait may at first be so slight as almost to escape 

 notice; but it is a symptom of importance, and should be 

 carefully noted, since it indicates that the tendon and the 

 other structures are losing their cohesion, becoming soft, and 

 more or less extensible. The external swelling increases, 

 until it surrounds the whole of the coronet, and extends up- 

 wards to the fetlock-joint. The divided extremities of the 



