AND ON SHOEING. 303 



majority of tlie race-horses now bred in this country, 

 which are subject, either from accident, inattention, or 

 other causes, to most of the diseases met with in the 

 feet of horses employed in common use. But the dis- 

 eases to which all horses vyith strong feet are principally 

 subject, are "bad thrushes," ''contraction," and, not 

 unfrequently, that which is termed " the navicular dis- 

 ease;" which latter was formerly better understood 

 by describing the horse as being " foundered or 



The locality of this disease is between the navicular 

 bone and the flexor tendon, which latter passes over the 

 former in its way to be inserted into the coffin bone — 

 this is the seat of the disease. The surface of the na- 

 vicular bone, and that part of the tendon immediately 

 over it, become heated and inflamed when diseased ; 

 which is occasioned by the concussion produced in the 

 rapid pace horses are at times obliged to go over hard 

 ground. From a frequent repetition of these causes, 

 the inflamation increases to such an extent as to termi- 

 nate in an ossification of the parts, which are thereby 

 deprived of their natural action, and indeed, of all 

 action w^hatsoever; and horses which are severely affect- 

 ed with the complaint, may be seen going as much as 

 they possibly can on their hind quarters. 



Race-horses are occasionally subject to the above 

 disease ; but there are some among them — such as the 

 craving ones, which are more liable to become affected 

 with the complaint than the light ones, in consequence 

 of their having not only to go long lengths in their 



