164 NAVICULARTHRITIS. 



ease is often for a long period warded off, and has, as I shall shew 

 hereafter, been known, under watchful management, to be kept aloof 

 altogether; a circumstance which will add weight to the opinion 

 that the disease in the sound foot is rather to be regarded as the 

 result of over- weight and work, than as being referrible to any con- 

 stitutional or local susceptibility. Perhaps, better than by any 

 further description, light will be thrown on the progress of navicu- 

 larthritis towards grogginess by the relation of some cases. 



C 6, troop horse, at the time four years old, was admitted for 

 treatment on account of lameness in the near fore foot (navicular' 

 thritis) on the 20th July, 1843 ; had the lame foot pared out, stood 

 with it in a warm bath, had it poulticed when taken out of the bath, 

 and took, during the time, a dose of cathartic medicine. No relief 

 being afforded by such mild treatment, blood was taken from the 

 foot, and a blister applied over the fetlock joint, as well as upon 

 the pasterns and coronet ; and he was turned at a fitting time into 

 strawyard. By the time he had been out a week he took a cold, 

 and was taken up and treated for it. In a few weeks, after the 

 blister had completely worked off his leg, he became sound, and 

 under moderate work continued so until the following spring. On 

 the 20th March on the following year he was again admitted into 

 the infirmary for lameness in the same (near) fore foot. Again he 

 was submitted to treatment, and again — on the 15th of May fol- 

 lowing — sent out, nearly sound, to be led out every day until he 

 had quite recovered the use of his ailing foot. No more complaint 

 was made of him until February 1845, when he was sent a fourth 

 time for lameness. A couple of months' treatment once more re- 

 stored him, but not for so long a period as before; for in September of 

 the same year (1845) he returned again, but now lame in the off 

 fore foot. A fortnight's treatment, however, rendering him sound, 

 he was sent away to duty again. Knowing his great suscepti- 

 bility of lameness, and being a horse of fine showy make, he was 

 specially favoured in his duty, being as much as possible preserved 

 from any hard work ; and in this manner was he kept up, going very 

 tolerably sound for nearly two years longer. Last May (1847), 

 however, he failed in both fore feet, having become completely 

 groggy, though still, oi the two, lamer in the near fore foot. 



