246 THE MODERN HORSE DOCTOR. 



If we except the few veterinary surgeons that are scattered 

 over the United States, scarcely any one else knows any thing 

 about the history or pathology of this disease. Dr. Wood has 

 lately called attention to it in an article published in the Boston 

 Cultivator ; aside from this we do not remember ever reading 

 any thing on the subject. In England, the attention of the fac- 

 ulty was directed to the subject by Mr. Turner, V. S. See 

 Hippopathology, p. 131. 



Treatment. — If the lameness is seen in the early stage of na- 

 vicularthritis, our general custom is, to remove the shoe, and apply 

 cold poultices, composed of oatmeal, vinegar, and water, to which 

 add for each poultice a handful of fine salt ; the poultice is to be 

 fairly spread over the surface of the hoof and heels, then to be 

 confined by means of thin cotton cloth, secured just above the 

 coronet. A mixture of equal parts of vinegar and water should 

 be kept ready to moisten the mass whenever it becomes dry, so 

 as to keep up a refrigerating action of the foot. Three or four 

 poultices will generally suffice, employing one every twenty-four 

 hours, on removing which the foot must be washed with soap 

 and water. At the end of four days, substitute for the poultice 



Tincture of arnica, 4 ounces, 



Water, 1 pint. 



Mix ; and sponge the foot three times a day. Give the patient a 

 dose of medicine ; keep him on scalded shorts, seasoned with salt, 

 allowing a small quantity of hay, and let him have rest. If it 

 should turn out, on discontinuing the poultices, that the heels are 

 tender, the animal being unwilling to bring the frog to the floor, 

 some soft clay must be placed under him, and so disposed of that 

 he can stand on it. We consider this treatment best adapted to 

 the early sub-acute stage of the malady. Some persons recom- 

 mend hot poultices and fomentations ; but w r e prefer cold to the 

 inflammatory, and hot applications to chronic stages of deep- 

 seated, and even superficial disease. Should the case be one of 

 a chronic type, we follow up the above treatment with counter 

 irritants. A preparation known as the acetate of cantharides 

 (which can be procured of the apothecaries) has been, in our 

 practice, instrumental in removing lameness of this description. 

 This, however, or any other remedy, would have but little effect 



