WOUNDS. 233 



of splints, sore shins, corns, chronic laminitis, inflammation of 

 the coronet (villitis), and sprains. 



A horse suffering from navicular disease goes up hill 

 sounder than he goes down ; the reverse is the case in laminitis. 



When the animal is lame behind, the disease is generally 

 in the hock ; when in front, in the feet of cart horses, or in the 

 suspensory ligaments of those that are used for fast work. 



When a horse goes lame on a fore-leg without any percep- 

 tible cause, and wears away the toe of the shoe, we may suspect 

 that foot of navicular disease. But if he goes on the heel, the 

 probability is that he has eit,her laminitis, "seedy toe," or 

 incipient ring-bone. If the lameness be behind, and the toe 

 of the shoe becomes worn, we shall generally find that it is due 

 to spavin. 



Side-bones are almost peculiar to cart horses, sore shins to 

 race-horses, and navicular disease to riding, cab, and carriage 

 horses. Navicular disease and occult spavin are hardly ever 

 found in horses under seven years of age. 



WOUNDS. 



Every one who keeps a horse soon finds out that this animal 

 is liable to many wounds and injuries; every part of the 

 body may be wounded. If the wound is clean cut, and there 

 are no foreign matters about it, an attempt should be made to 

 heal it by " adhesion " or the " first intention " that is, to 

 unite the divided edges at once. The parts should, therefore, 

 be brought together without delay ; and to do this the injury 

 must be treated while fresh, as if not done very soon it will be 

 useless. Sometimes the object in view to bring the divided 

 edges into apposition may be accomplished by means of a 

 bandage, smoothly but rather firmly applied; but more fre- 

 quently it can best be done by sutures. To insert these, it is 

 nearly always found necessary to keep the horse quiet by 



