NAVICULAR DISEASE. 349 



Ulcers have always a tendency to open upon parts nearest the 

 surface of the body; and, finally, because this surface, being 

 deprived of its soft cushion (the frog), receives a greater amount 

 of concussion. 



Treatment. — Eecollecting that the first stage is that of in- 

 flammation, all means should be used to arrest this process 

 before any alterations of structure have taken place. Shoes 

 are to be removed ; the frogs allowed to touch the ground ; 

 blood is to be withdrawn from the toe, or coronary plexus ; and 

 the feet placed in a cold water bath for several hours during 

 the day, and in a poultice at night. Whilst in the bath the 

 horse's head must be tied up; but when he is out of it he 

 should be encouraged to lie down, for the purpose of taking 

 weight off the feet. This method of treatment, with an occasional 

 purgative and a cooling diet, has proved most successful. At 

 the end of a fortnight, whether the lameness be removed or not, 

 a mild blister round the coronet is very useful ; but should 

 this plan prove of no avail, a seton must be inserted through 

 the frog. If the near foot is to be operated upon, the needle 

 should be introduced from the frog upwards ; but if the off 

 one, from the heel downwards, if the operator be not left- 

 handed. It is seldom necessary to cast the animal. The horny 

 frog must be well pared, and if the needle — a sharp-pointed, 

 short, curved one — be passed quickly, the operation is generally 

 completed before the animal knows much about it. It is 

 necessary that care should be taken not to introduce the needle 

 too deeply, as the tendon may be wounded ; the point of the 

 needle should be introduced into the frog about one inch from 

 its toe, and brought out midway between the bulbs of the 

 frog and the anterior boundary of the hollow of the heel. 

 The ends of the tape must be tied together, so as to form a 

 loop, which is to be sufficiently long to admit of a little move- 

 ment in dressing, but not so long as to extend to the boundary 

 of the wall, or the horse, by treading upon it, will soon destroy 

 it. Before the seton is introduced, it is usual to put on the 

 shoe, for the purpose of removing weight from the irritated 

 frog. About three weeks or a month is the usual time for 

 keeping the seton in the frog, dressing it daily, and keeping 

 the foot clean. After its removal, the frog must be examined, 

 for usually it is " under-run " between the two orifices by 



