T.^E IIOR-^K AN'T) IT.S DTSFASE:^. 167 



The Navicular Joint I)i??eas9. 



Beliind and beneath the lower pastern bone, and 

 behind and above the heel of the coffin bone, is placed a 

 small bone, called the navicular bone. The use of this 

 bone is to support and strengthen the union between the 

 lower pastern and the coffin bone, and to assist the flexor 

 tendon in its action as it passes over it, in order to be 

 inserted into the bottom of the coffin bone, and forms a 

 joint with tbat tendon. 



Cause. — Like many other complaints of the horse, 

 this is often induced by sudden and violent exercise after 

 the animal has been allowed to stand in the stable 

 inactive, the parts not being for some time adapted to 

 overstrained action, or may be too much play between 

 the bone and the tendon, or the cartilage of the bone 

 may be inflamed, and thus produce destruction of it, 

 and cause a lameness of the most painful nature; from the 

 navicular bone being so obscurely situated, it is difficult 

 to ascertain, by inspection, where it is diseased, and 

 this has puzzled many to find oat the cause of lameness 

 emanating from it, and has too often been attiibuted to 

 the shoulder. 



Cure — Like some other diseases incidental to the horse, 

 the cure of this is very uncertain, except treated in the 

 following manner. Take two quarts of blood from the 

 toe vein, and blister all round the coronet, have the 

 blister repeated, if necessary, and put on a thick-heeled 

 shoe. The animal should have a causative ball the same 

 time, composed as follows : — 



Barbadoes Aloes 5 drachms. 



Calomel I ,, 



Castile Soap 2 ,, 



Oil of Caraways 2 drops. 



The ball should be formed with a little linseed meal 

 and treacle. This disease is altogether of so delicate a 

 nature, that I would not advise its cure to be attempted 



