74 LAMENESS IN THE HORSE. 



intense lameness appeared, the above symptoms, with 

 increased throbbing of the digital arteries of the lame foot, 

 were evident. The diagnosis was confirmed by a post 

 mortem examination. 



11.— Navicular Disease. 



History. — The horse points forward whenever standing 

 still. Later on he seems stiff when first taken out of the 

 stable, going lamer on hard than on soft ground, and 

 gradually drives out of the lameness. 



Ins})€>dkm. — In the standing posture the animal shows 

 volar flexion of the phalanges, pointing forward. When 

 both feet are involved, he frequently shifts the weight from 

 one foot to the other, and keeps them in advance of the 

 chest, or first poiuts with one foot and then with the other. 

 When going, there is a tendency to dig the toes into the 

 ground, and the animal is apt to stumble, especially in 

 disease of both feet. In these cases the gait is stilty, the 

 shoulders appear stiff, and the feet remain on the ground as 

 little as possible. Little exercise is necessary to bring on 

 sweating and exhaustion. In the early stages of the disease, 

 the animal may drive out of the lameness ; nevertheless, 

 hard work intensifies it. Resting the horse entirely for a 

 long time often diminishes the lameness to such an extent 

 that it is barely visible. It is a distinct supporting-leg 

 lameness. Backing is difficult. Lameness is usually 

 increased by travelling on hard and rough ground. In cases 

 of some standing, inspection of the hoof shows an apparently 

 swollen condition of the coronet, ridges on the horny box, 

 the hoof seems lengthened, the heels are long, the quarters 

 diminished in size, the concavity of the sole is greatly 

 increased, and the frog more or less atrophied. The toe of 



