574 THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK vi. 



slightly in favour of one or the other. For a short period the lameness 

 is specially marked in the near leg, and then in the off one, or vice 

 versa. This repeated change in the relative degree of lameness in the 

 two limbs arises out of the fact that the animal in saving the foot in 

 which the disease is most severe aggravates it in the other, which is 

 called upon to do extra work in supporting the weight of the body. 

 In progression there is a tendency to go on the toes or front part of 

 the foot, the action becomes short and restricted, the knees are not 

 bent, and the shoulder movements become very limited. It was this 

 peculiarity which, in past times, led to the belief that the shoulder was 

 the seat of disease. 



As the malady progresses the feet gradually waste and become 

 smaller, in the course of which the heels contract, the quarters become 

 deep and upright, the frog shrinks, and the sole presents a concave or 

 hollowed-out appearance. 



In the stable, or while at rest, the patient stands with one foot in 

 advance of the other, and there is a tendency to " knuckle over " at 

 the fetlock joints. 



Treatment. Navicular disease once established is incurable, but 

 something may be done to retard the progress of the malady and pro- 

 long the animal's services. The measure of success in this direction 

 will depend upon the stage in which treatment is commenced. Early 

 resort to blisters applied over the coronets frequently, during a run at 

 grass of two or three months, is invariably attended with benefit, and 

 the same may be said of setons applied to the frogs. Wh*ere it is 

 desired to keep the animal in work the feet may be immersed in a cold 

 bath for an hour or two each day, or cold swabs may be applied to 

 them when the horse is at rest. Shoeing with leather rings, or well- 

 fitting rubber pads, will break the "jar " and afford relief to the aching 

 feet during work. Where these measures fail there only remains to 

 divide the nerves of the leg and deprive the diseased parts of sensi- 

 bility. This operation has at once the effect of removing the lameness, 

 but it does so by withdrawing all sense of feeling from the foot, and 

 not by arresting the disease. 



SIDEBONE. A sidebone is a hard unyielding substance situated on 

 the side of the coronet, from which it extends backwards towards the 

 heel, and for a little distance upwards beyond the hoof. In this 

 disease the lateral cartilages, which in a state of health are elastic, 

 become converted into bone, when they are found to be hard and rigid. 

 Sidebones may appear on the inner or the outer side of the 

 coronet, or both. The fore feet suffer much more frequently than the 

 hind ones, and heavy horses are much more liable to them than those 

 of the lighter breeds. It is worthy of remark, h.owever, that since the 

 adoption of veterinary inspection at our leading shows, a marked 

 diminution of this troublesome ailment has taken place in our draught 

 horses, and especially in those of the Shire breed. 



Among the causes which conduce to sidebones hereditary predis- 

 position, or an inbred tendency to their development, is strongly 



