LAMENESS, FROM VARIOUS CAUSES. 331 



it is supposed that a predisposition to this affection may lurk in 

 the breed ; in fact, it is known that a tendency to it exists in the 

 progeny of certain horses. It is related that the progeny of 

 " Young Musician," a thorough-bred horse, all showed a tendency 

 to navicular disease. 



Treatment. — We first ascertain whether the difficulty is of an 

 acute or chronic character. Should it have made its appearance 

 very suddenly, and the part feels hot and painful, then we class 

 it as the acute stage. Should the trouble, however, be of long 

 standing, it will be in the chronic stage. In the acute stage, cold 

 water bandages must be applied to the region of the fetlock, which 

 should be kept wet with water, to which may be added a little 

 vinegar, merely to acidulate the former; the patient should be 

 kept at rest, and fed on a light diet. In the chronic stage, coun- 

 ter-irritants are indicated, yet organic disease may be the result; 

 in that event, the horse has always a sort of groggy walk, and ia 

 never sound. 



Neurotomy has been practiced in view of treating this affection, 

 but I can not perceive how such an operation can benefit a horse 

 having an organic difficulty. Neurotomy merely destroys, for a 

 short time, the sensibility of certain parts of the foot ; but so soon 

 as the divided nerve reunites, sensibility is again restored. There 

 may, however, occur some form of lameness which might be bene- 

 fited by neurotomy, but I think the same thing might be achieved 

 by counter-irritation, and without the use of the knife. The coun- 

 ter-irritant I have found most useful is as follows : 



No. 53. Cod-liver oil 2 oz. 



Kerosene 3 oz. 



Cantharides .- 1 dr. 



Mix. 



Apply a portion of the above to the navicular region, between 

 the heels and fetlock, on the back part, once or twice daily, until 

 the part is well blistered, which will take place at the end of a 

 week. The more thorough the blistering, the more chance is there 

 of doing good. No after-dressing need be applied, unless the 

 parts become very sore; in that event, I should lubricate with 

 alive oiL 



It will be necessary, in chronic cases, to secure the services of 

 a good blacksmith, so that the animal may have a shoe affixed 

 properly adapted to the necessities of the cas*>. If any signs of 



