438 DISEASES OF THE HORSES'S FOOT 



lameness. Even this is such as to at first occasion no alarm, 

 being intermittent and slight, and only very gradually be- 

 coming marked. In a few 1 cases, however, lameness will 

 come on suddenly, and is excessive from the commence- 

 ment. It is the lameness, slow in its onset, intermittent in 

 its character, and gradual in its progress, however, that is 

 ordinarily characteristic of navicular disease. 



The animal is taken out from the stable sound, with just 

 a vague suspicion, perhaps, that he moved a bit stiffly. 

 While out he is thought by his driver or rider to be going 

 feelingly with one foot or with both. Even this is not 

 marked, and the driver has some difficulty in assuring 

 himself whether or no he really observed it, or whether it 

 was but imagination. 



On the return home the limb is examined, and nothing 

 abnormal is to be found. The leg is of its normal appear- 

 ance, and neither heat nor tenderness is to be observed in 

 it or in the foot. On the following day the animal again is 

 sound, and the lameness of the previous day is put down 

 10 a slight strain or something equally simple. The patient 

 is then, perhaps, rested for a day or two. When next he is 

 worked he again moves out from the stable sound, but again 

 during the going gives the driver the unpleasant impres- 

 sion that something is amiss ; and so the case goes on. 

 One day the owner fears the animal is becoming seriously 

 enough affected to warrant him in calling in his veterinary 

 surgeon ; the next he is confidently assuring himself that 

 nothing is wrong. 



Perhaps the animal is now rested for a week or two, or 

 even for a month or two, hoping that this will put him 

 sound. Immediately on commencing work, however, the 

 same symptoms as before assert themselves, and the vet- 

 erinary surgeon is called in. 



With a history such as we have given the veterinarian's 

 suspicions are aroused. He has the animal trotted, and 

 may notice at this stage that there is an inclination to go 

 on the toes, that the lame limb or limbs are not put forward 

 freely, and that progression is stilty and uncertain ; it is 



