190 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



NAVICULAR DISEASE. 



Nearly every kind of foot lameness is laid to the 

 charge of this disease. Some men adopt the only safe 

 decision of " foot lameness," while others, less wise and 

 prudent, presumptuously and dogmatically adopt ( navi- 

 cular disease,' as if it Avere the only disease known to 

 affect the foot of the horse. 



It consists in : — first, inflammation of the synovial 

 capsule of the navicular joint, resulting from inflamma- 

 tion of the perforans tendon, which passes under the 

 navicular, and is attached to the pedal bone. It is 

 met with in the very best and strongest-looking feet, 

 and the degree of lameness occasioned by it is very 

 variable. When ulceration occurs the synovial capsule 

 is absorbed, and the tendon comes into contact with 

 the bone. The horse will usually rest the affected foot 

 when standing at his ease. He will be much more lame 

 on leaving than on returning to the stable, the friction 

 of the parts giving rise to a temporary secretion of 

 synovia. When the disease is at all advanced, all 

 treatment will be hopeless ; but, in the early stages of 

 the disease, bleeding at the toe, followed by emollient 

 poultices, will be found beneficial, when combined with 

 rest in a roomy and cool box, well littered with fresh 

 tan. The insertion of setons through the elastic frog, 

 as well as neurotomy, used to be more in vogue than 

 at present. This disease is easily distinguished from 

 laminitis by the horse ' walking ' perfectly sound. 



A hunter or steeplechaser affected with this disease 



