AND MALFORMATIONS OP^ THE FEET. 80 



round the navicular bone. Whilst it is certain 

 that the strain on the diseased tendon and bone is 

 greatly relieved by shortening the toes, it is pro- 

 bable that in many, if not in most cases, the origi- 

 nal inflammation has been caused by the additional 

 strain thrown on the tendon by the use of the 

 ordinary straight shoe. 



That disease of the navicular bone originates in 

 inflammation of the flexor perforans tendon and its 

 investing sheath, is the view held by the great 

 m'ajority of veterinary surgeons ; but among the 

 public there is a prevalent idea that the disease 

 commences in the bone, and extends to the tendon ; 

 and that the cause of the disease is concussion 

 arising from our hard roads and iron shoes. 



Even if for a moment we suppose this to be so, 

 how greatly must that concussion be aggravated by 

 the ordinary practice of rasping the crust, of paring 

 away the sole, and of cutting down the frog and 

 bars? How much more must concussion be felt in 

 a foot where the crust has been rendered not only 

 thin, but brittle and inelastic by rasping ? 



An objection may perhaps be raised by those, 

 who believe in concussion as the cause of navicular 

 disease, to the use of tips which have been strongly 

 recommended in these pages, on the ground that, 

 by laying bare the heels, tips must be very liable 

 to produce this disease ; and Mr. Miles, in his ex- 

 cellent treatise on shoeing, alludes ti> the value of a 



