DISEASES OF FARM ANIMALS 223 



is likely to produce navicular disease. The most 

 prolific cause is bad shoeing. By degrees the in- 

 flammation in a chronic form extends to other 

 parts, causing a shrinking of the soft parts, result- 

 ing in contraction of the foot. 



The lameness may appear suddenly and perhaps 

 immediately after the horse has been shod, and is 

 then usually thought to be the fault of nailing on 

 the shoe. It is likely in this case that the smith 

 has pared the sole and frog too thin, and that the 

 part has suffered from a bruise by the horse step- 

 ping on something hard. After a rest it may dis- 

 appear, to return after the next drive. Sometimes 

 the disease is of very slow progress in one or both 

 fore feet. The first thing that is noticed is that the 

 animal points its toe, and if both are affected, first 

 one, then the other. The animal may not be lame, 

 but it does not step out so well as it used to, and 

 by degrees the part gets more tender, until the 

 animal begins to go lame, and the lameness gradu- 

 ally gets worse. There is a form of this lameness 

 where the animal shows stiffness and lameness 

 when first taken out of the stable, but, after being 

 driven for a short distance, it passes off, and after 

 it stands for awhile it will start off lame again. If 

 this disease lasts for some time the muscles of the 

 chest and shoulders seem stiff and may shrink. This 

 has been called " chest founder " by horsemen. 

 This is brought about by the soreness of the feet. 

 The horse is afraid to step out, giving it the ap- 

 pearance of being stiff; the muscles of the chest 

 and shoulders will shrink from want of proper 

 action, caused by the feet being sore. If there is 

 heat and tenderness in the hollow of the heel or a 

 redness of the sole, and an absence of any other 

 disease of the foot or leg, we may consider with 



