796 DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 



When the lameness has continued so long as to render cure 

 impossible, it may be greatly helped by slightl}' i-ounding or turn- 

 ing up the toe so that the foot will roll a little 6n the ground, and 

 slightly raising the heel-calks. The shoe should be fitted very 

 carefully. A still better way in very sensitive cases, is to put 

 leather or rubber between the shoe and foot. When this is done, 

 the nails should not be driven or clinched tightly. Hard wrench- 

 ing or hammering of the foot should never be permitted, as a very 

 little carelessness in this way would be liable to cause considerable 

 soreness and lameness. 



Since writing this chapter, I have incidentally obtained some 

 points in the management of this lameness, which, notwithstand- 

 ing the extreme length of this article, I will take the liberty to add. 



While in conversation with a well-known veterinary surgeon 

 in New York Cit}', he incidentally ii^iformed me of a case of 

 navicular-joint lameness, which was diagnosed as such, and pro- 

 nounced incurable by one of the leading veterinary authorities in 

 that city. The animal was a fine mare, owned by Dr. Sayers, an 

 eminent specialist, and valued highly as a gift. Discouraged at 

 this decision from a high authority, he went immediately to Mr. 

 Robert Bonner, whose general knowledge on everything pertaining 

 to the horse he regarded as next to infallible, and in whom, as a 

 personal friend, he had great confidence. Mr. Bonner assured 

 him that the case could be easily cui'ed, and directed him to 

 take her to Mr. David Roburg for treatment, requesting him, 

 as a matter of curiosity and as a proof of the success of the treat- 

 ment, to give a daily report of the progress of the case. The 

 result of the trial was the complete disappearance of the lameness 

 in about two weeks, although the horse was driven daily. 



I called upon Mr. Roburg, who, as stated on page 630, is an 

 expert shoer of remarkable skill, and stated to him what I 

 had learned, and that I would like to have him give me such an 

 explanation of his method of treatment as he could constistently 

 do; that I wished to give the best points known on the subject, 

 not only for the benefit of my readers generally, but for that 

 of the veterinary profession. Mr. Roburg very kindly ex- 

 plained to me the main points of his management. First : To 

 remove all strain from the part involved b}' the most perfect ad- 

 justment of a shoe that would aid mobility to the greatest extent; 



