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times, and then every six hours on the following day. Afterwards, the 

 aconite should be omitted from the draught, which may be given three times 

 daily. The bicarbonate of potassium is greatly to be preferred to the 

 bicarbonate of sodium. In the case of very plethoric animals, three or four 

 quarts of blood should be abstracted from the jugular vein, and in those 

 cases where the arteries of the feet pulsate very distinctly, we may remove a 

 pint of blood from each coronet, by puncturing with the lancet. The 

 feet should be kept in tubs containing water at a temperature of about 

 iio°F. After the first day, poultices of bran may be substituted. When 

 the animal becomes much better, bar shoes shoud be put on ; and the animal 

 should be gently exercised for half an hour daily. The exercise should be 

 gradually increased, until recovery is complete. After the acute symptoms 

 have abated, it is customary to have the coronets well blistered. 



In cases of chronic laminitis, the soles or frogs should not be pared on 

 any consideration ; but the animal should be shod with leathern plates, upon 

 which the bar shoes should be nailed. The coronets should be 

 blistered with red iodide of mercury ointment. This blistering may be 

 repeated in three or four days, with equal parts of lard and red iodide of 

 mercury ointment. Pressure upon the frog is important in shoeing in this- 

 condition of the foot. In those cases where the animal manifests uneasiness 

 after work, or when the hoofs are abnormally heated, it is well to allow the 

 horse to stand with the fore feet in cold water for an hour or two. Where 

 this is unnecessary, the horse is better on a cool than on a heated bedding. 



NAVICULAR DISEASE AND CONTRACTED FOOT. 



There is no more important subject in the whole range of veterinary 

 surgery, than the one which it is our intention now to discuss. It is not our 

 purpose to enter fully into the many theories which have been propounded 

 concerning the pathology of this obdurate and common cause of unsound- 

 ness, which is sometimes spoken of as " groggy," and was formerly known as 

 coffin-bone-lameness. Indeed, with the small space at our disposal this 

 would be absolutely impossible, for one might write an elaborate treatise on 

 this subject. It is rather our object here to draw the notice of horsemen to^ 

 those practical facts which, from every point of view, deserve to receive very 

 careful attention. 



The navicular is a transversely elongated bone situated at the back of 

 the coffin bone. It is flattened above and below, and narrowed at the 

 extremities. It is made up of an outer layer of dense compact bone, 

 enclosing very dense spongy bone. Behind this bone there is a ver)' 

 important tendon, which passes round it to become attached to the back of 

 the coffin bone. This tendon passes upwards behind the limb, and joins the 

 muscle which, when called into action, bends the foot. 



Navicular disease arises in the first instance from inflammation of the 

 navicular bone, or of the cartilage on the under surface of this bone. This 

 inflammation often spreads to the thin lubricating membrane between the 



