LAMENESS, FROM VARIOUS CAUSES. 331 



It is supposed that a predisposition to this affection may lurk in 

 the breed ; in fact, it is known that a tendency to it exists in the 

 progeny of certiun horses. It is related that the progeny of 

 " Young ]\Iusician," a thorough-bred horse, all showed a tendency 

 to navicular disease. 



Treatment. — We first ascertain whether the difficulty is of an 

 «cute or chrouic character. Should it have made its aj)j>carauce 

 ^iry suddenly, and tiie part feels hot aud painful, then we class 

 it as the acute stage. Should the trouble, however, be of long 

 standing, it will be in the chrouic stage. In the acute stage, cold 

 water bandages nmst be applied to the region of the fetlock, which 

 should be kc])t wet with water, to which may be added a little 

 vinegar, merely to acidulate the former; the patient should be 

 kept at rest, and fed on a light diet. In the chronic stage, coun- 

 ter-irritants are indicated, yet organic disease may be the result; 

 in tiiat event, the horse has always a sort of groggy walk, aud is 

 never sound. 



Neurotomy has been practiced in view of treating this affection, 

 jut I cau not perceive how such an operation can benefit a liors« 

 tiaving an organic difficulty. Neurotomy merely destroys, for a 

 short time, the sensibility of certain parts of the toot; but so soon 

 as the divided nerve reunites, sensibility is again restored. There 

 may, however, occur some form of lameness which might be bene- 

 fited by neurotomy, but I think the same thing might be achieved 

 by counter-irritation, and without the use of the knife. The coun- 

 ter-irritant I have found most useful is as follows : 



No. 53. Cod-liver oil 2 oz. 



Kcroseue 3 oz. 



Cantharides , 1 dr. 



^»ix. 



Apply a portion of the above to the navicular region, betweeiB 

 the heels and fetlock, on the back parr, once or twice daily, uutU 

 the part is well blistered, which will take place at the cud of a 

 week. The more thorough the blistering, the more chance is iherp 

 of doing good. No after-drc^ssing need be applieil, unless the 

 parts become very sore; in that event, I should lubricate with 

 olive oil. 



It will be necessary, in chronic cases, to secure the services of 

 b g'jod blacksmith, so that the animal may have a shoe affixed 

 pro]>erly adapted to the neces.sities of the cas*>. If any signs of 



