NAVICULAR DISEASE. 413 



ing, wliicli will probably disappear after going a short distance, and tbere 

 is also a peculiarity in the action of the animal, which to a great extent is 

 characteristic of this disease. The horse 'goes upon his toes,' and 

 brings the heel of the foot but slightly in contact with the ground. This 

 will in some measure account for horses with navicular disease going 

 lamer down hill, the weight being then thrown upon the heels, and stress 

 principally placed on the aft'ected parts. The very reverse of this will be 

 observed in the action of horses suffering from laminitis. When placed 

 in the stable after a journey, the animal will point his feet : if one foot only 

 be affected, this will be placed at rest in advance of the other ; if both feet, 

 he will rest and advance them alternately. This is a marked symptom of 

 navicular disease, and although it may be occasionally observed in other 

 injuries to the posterior part of the foot, it should always be looked upon 

 with considerable su.spicion. In the majority of cases more or less con- 

 traction of the hoof will be present. There will be a wii-ing in at the 

 quarters, and the heels will generally be found narrow and upright. 

 Contraction is rarely a cause, but a frequent result, of navicular disease ; 

 and although in combination with other symptoms, it will materially assist 

 us in pointing out the affection, it should be borne in mind that we some- 

 times get navicular lameness without any contraction, and on the other 

 hand meet with one or both feet contracted without any lameness whatever. 



The cure of navicular disease is difficult and uncertain. The first and 

 all-important point is the removal of the inflammation. Local bleeding, 

 poulticing, and physic will be our principal resources. If there is con- 

 t: action, this must, if possible, be removed by the means already pointed 

 out. If there is no contraction, it will nevertheless be prudent to get rid 

 of all surrounding pressure, and to unfetter, as much as possible, the 

 inside heel of the coffin-bone, by paring the sole and rasping the quarters, 

 and using the shoe without nails on the inner quarter, and applying cold 

 poultices to the coronet and the whole of the foot. This is a case, how- 

 ever, which must be turned over to the veterinary surgeon, for he alone, 

 from his knowledge of the anatomy of the foot, and the precise seat of the 

 disease, is competent to treat it. If attacked on its earliest appearance, 

 and before ulceration of the bone has taken place, it may be radically 

 cured : but ulceration "will never be healed, and caries of the bone will for 

 ever remain. 



Bhstering the coronet vsdll often assist in promoting a cure by diverting 

 the inflammation to another part, and it will materially quicken the 

 growth of the horn. A seton passed through the frog by a skilful opera- 

 tor, and approaching as near as possible to the seat of disease, has been 

 very serviceable. 



As a last resource, if there is no great inflammation (and that would be 

 readily detected by the heat of the foot), neurotomy may be practised 

 with the hope of alleviating the sufferings of the animal, and thus remov- 

 ing a portion of the lameness ; but if the lameness is extreme, either with 

 or without contraction, and especially if there is heat about the foot, the 

 operation is dangerous. There is, probably, ulceration — possibly, decay 

 of the bone ; and the additional friction to which the parts would be sub- 

 jected, by the freer action of the horse, the sense of pain being removed, 

 would cause that ulceration or decay to proceed more rapidly until the bone 

 would be completely disorganised, or the tendon would be gradually worn 

 through by rubbing against the roughened surface of the bone. 



SAND-CEACK. 



This, as its name imports, is a craclc or division of the hoof from above 

 downward, and into which sand and dirt are too apt to insinuate them- 



