784 



DISEASES AND THEIE TKEATMENT. 



can be obtained of its location and character. By looking at Fig. 

 679, it will be seen that the navicular bone extends across the 

 back edge of the coffin-joint; at Fig. 686, that the flexor tendon 

 passes down under it, and inserts itself into the lower surface of 

 the pedal bone. This supports the navicular bone when weight is 

 thrown upon the limb, as the back part of the small pastern rests 

 upon the navicular bone. Now, if from any cause irritation is 

 set up in the synovial membrane of this small bone, or of the 



FIG. 692. Natural position of bones of the foot. 



sheath of the tendon which supports it, or of the surrounding 

 parts, whether by sprain, concussion, injury, contraction, improper 

 shoeing, changing the obliquity of the foot, that is, raising or low- 

 ering the heel too much, allowing the toe to grow too long, or any 

 cause of changing the proper adjustment of the foot, etc., the 

 effect is practically the same in causing inflammation and lame- 



The best authorities agree that the most common indirect 



