49 



rally answer the purpose ; but placing the horse in a box or stall, 

 some portion of the floor of which is covered with wet clay, is a plan 

 of treatment which used to be very popular. When the lameness is 

 severe or recurs at short intervals, some more active measures are 

 generall}' adopted, and bleeding from the toe is followed by a re- 

 peated application of blisters to the coronets and across the heels ; 

 very bad and long-standing cases are often much benefited by this 

 treatment. 



'' Frog setons are occasionally verv effective in the treatment of 

 navicular lameness, but they require a rest of six weeks or two 

 months in order to gain the full benefit from their action. The 

 operation is performed by passing a needle armed with tape through 

 the centre of the frog, and causing it to emerge at the upper part of 

 the heel under the fetlock. The tape is to be knotted in the ordi- 

 nary way, and smeared with a little blister or turpentine ointment. 

 During the time it is allowed to remain in, which will be probably a 

 fortnight or three weeks, it must be moved once every day, other- 

 wise the opening will become blocked up. and the matter accumulate 

 in the interior of the foot. In passing the seton needle through the 

 frog it is necessary to exercise care in directing its course, to avoid 

 injuring the flexor tendon ; otherwise no danger attends the ope- 

 ration. 



•'•' The particular method of shoeing applicable to cases of navicular 

 disease, will require modification according to circumstances. It is 

 desirable, if possible, to gradually lower the heels which have 

 become contracted and upright, and to have the shoes laid off at the 

 heels in the manner previously suggested ; but if it be found that 

 the frogs cannot be brought near the ground without the lameness 

 being increased, thick-heeled shoes must be employed to elevate the 

 heels and keep the frogs from the ground.'" 



The division of the nerves above the fetlock joint will effect a 

 permanent cure. 



Some surgeons contend that the disease may be cured in its early 

 stages by strong counter-irritants. 



As soon as the horse is sufiiciently prepared, apply the firing-iron 

 effectually round the coronet, which is the seat of much pain in this 

 affection, making six or seven strokes about one and a-half inches 

 long, and continue each of these strokes down the hoof for about an 

 inch. Apply a strong blister over the whole. When this blister 

 has peeled off apply a second, which is usually sufficient to effect a 

 cure in bad cases. Turn the horse out into a field or loose box, 

 where he can exercise himself. In mild cases, the application of a 



