124 DISEASES OF THE FEET AND LEGS. 



work only, and at the proper road paces — viz., walking 

 and trotting — keeping the feet moist, wetting them oc- 

 casionally during a long journey, and regularly stop- 

 ping them directly after each day^s severe work. — See 

 " Grooming," page 13, 



Navicular Disease is, unfortunately, a very common 

 one with horses ; and when the delicate structure of 

 the foot is considered in connection with the rough 

 usage the creature gets on hard roads while carrying 

 a heavy weight on his back, it is only surprising that 

 the feet bear such jarring at all. 



The navicular is the small pulley-bone, over which 

 the flexor tendon passes, and being the most active of 

 any of the foot bones, is the most likely to be injured 

 by ill usage {see page 118). The symptoms are lame- 

 ness, with more or less pointing of the foot when 

 at rest, and heat towards the quarters of the lame 

 foot. 



Unlike laminitis, the lameness is inconsiderable at 

 first, and increases as the disease progresses. 



Being so deep-seated, it is very difficult to cure. In 

 the incijoient stages the most eff'ectual remedy appears 

 to be the insertion of frog-setons, requiring the assist- 

 ance of a veterinary surgeon. In most instances the 

 case is hopeless, and many a fine horse is sold to limp 

 out a life of misery, drawing a hack cab, or, with a 

 refinement of cruelty, is subject to the operation of un- 

 nerving the foot, which, by destroying sensation in that 

 part, enables the animal to travel without apparent 

 lameness, though the disease continues to progress till 

 part of the foot has been known to drop off in work. 

 Being a result of work to which all horses are liable, no 

 mode of prevention can be recommended. 



