214 THE PRACTICAL HORSE KEEPER. 



and flatter behind. The feet are also more sensitive when 

 travelling on hard roads, the knees being kept more or less 

 straight. Separation often occurs between the wall, the sole, 

 and the laminae, leaving a cavity containing powdery horn, and 

 known as "seedy-toe." For this condition, treatment must be 

 chiefly palliative ; the horse should stand on tan or moss litter, 

 and for some hours of the day in a stall laid with clay tempered 

 with salt and water, or be allowed to run on moist meadow 

 land. A mild blister may be applied round the coronet now 

 and again, and shoeing be carefully performed. 



Seedy-Toe. 



"We have already referred to the cause of this condition. It 

 may also be due to injury by the clip of the shoe, by driving a 

 nail too near to the quick, or by any other cause which will 

 excite inflammation. Sometimes it may exist without any 

 external indication until the shoe is removed, unless the hoof 

 is tapped, when it will emit a hollow sound immediately over 

 the separation. 



Treatment. This condition, though very objectionable, 

 does not always cause lameness. If a cure is to be at- 

 tempted, all the separated wall should be removed as far as 

 the white solid horn, every crack or unsoundness being obli- 

 terated. A blister should then be applied round the coronet to 

 hasten the secretion of sound horn, and tar and tow bound on 

 the exposed surface until the wall has grown solid and strong. 



Navicular Disease. 



Navicular disease is, perhaps, the most serious malady to 

 which the foot of the horse is liable. It is confined to the 

 back part of the foot, where the large tendon (perforans) 

 passes over the navicular bone just before its insertion into 

 the sole of the pedal bone. It is most frequent in carriage 

 and riding horses, and is brought on by severe exertion, or 



