NAVICULARTHRITIS. 151 



pressure. At the same time, I believe that a dry and hard, or 

 ''rigid" hoof, and, in particular, a rigid frog, materially adds to 

 the danger of having this disease produced : the elastic hoof and 

 spongy frog, in the flat weak foot for example, yielding under the 

 infliction of blows and pressure, so as for a length of time — for 

 always, perhaps — to counteract any harm that might accrue from 

 their being fixtures, and which, I believe, does result from that 

 circumstance. I am of opinion with Mr. Turner, that an " evil" 

 accrues from keeping horses standing so many hours in the stable, 

 and from the irregular work they are in consequence apt to be put 

 to; and this evil, I repeat, mainly consists in the hoof, during 

 that time of confinement in the warm stable, acquiring a rigidity 

 which unfits it for yielding under pressure simultaneous both from 

 above and from below ; and the consequence is, or is likely to be, 

 bruise or lesion, or irritation excitive of navicularthritis. And this 

 I should take to be the usual or common way in which this tristful 

 disease has its beginning. 



Symjjtoms of Navicularthritis, 



The first or earliest Symptom of Navicularthritis, 

 according to Dr. Brauell, is pointing of the foot ; though, from the 

 unlikelihood of its being discovered or attracting notice, or from 

 the little heed that may be taken of it, supposing it to be observed, 

 so long as the horse continues to go sound, it has in general escaped 

 mention as such. Commonly, 



Lameness is the Symptom which first strikes atten- 

 tion. Now, lameness may make its appearance on a sudden, or 

 it may come on by degrees : in the former case it being often in- 

 tense in the first instance; in the latter, ordinarily slight, and 

 mostly transitory. 



A horse shall quit his stable for work or exercise in his habitual 

 state of soundness, but while out shall drop suddenly lame. At 

 the moment, his rider or driver imagines he has trodden upon a 

 stone or picked up one, and under such supposition hastes to in- 

 spect the foot. No stone, however, is found in the foot, — no signs 

 of one having been lodged there. The horse, unable to pursue his 



