411 



The complications iisuallj' seen are ringbones, sidebones, thrush, con- 

 tracted heels, quarter cracks, and fractures of the navicular, coronet, 

 and j)astern bones. 



Treatment. — But few cases of navicular disease recover. In the 

 early stages the wall of the heels should be rasped awaj'' as directed 

 in the treatment for contracted heels, until the horn is quite thin; 

 the coronet should be well blistered Avith Spanish-lly ointment, and the 

 patient turned to grass in a damp field or meadow. After three or 

 four weeks' time the blister sliould be repeated. This treatment is to 

 be continued for two or three months. Plane shoes are to be put on 

 when the patient is returned to work. In chronic cases the animal 

 should be put to slow, easy work. To relieve the pain, neurotomy 

 may be performed — an operation in which the sense of feeling is 

 destroyed in the foot by cutting out pieces of the nerve at the fetlock. 

 This operation in nowise cures the disease, and since it may be 

 attended with serious results can ow\j be advised in certain favorable 

 cases, to be determined b}' the veterinarian. 



SIDEBOXES. 



A sidebone -consists in a transformation of the lateral cartilages 

 found on the wings of the coffin bone into bonj'- matter by the deposi- 

 tion of lime salts. The disease is a common one, especially in heavy 

 horses used for draft, in cavalry horses, cow-ponies, and other saddle 

 horses, and in runners and trotters. 



Sidebones are peculiar to the fore feet, yet thej* occasionally develop 

 in the hind feet, where they are of little importance, since thej' cause 

 no lameness. In manj^ instances sidebones are of slow growth, and 

 being unaccompanied by acute inflammation, they cause no lameness 

 until such time as, b}' reason of their size, they interfere with the 

 action of the joint. (Plate XXXII, Fig. 4.) 



Causes. — Sidebones often grow in heavy horses without any appar- 

 ent injury, and their development has been attributed to the over- 

 expansion of the cartilages caused bj^ the great weight of the animal. 

 Blows, and other injuries to the cartilages, may set up an inflamma- 

 tory process which ends in the formation of these bony growths. 

 Iligh-heeled shoes, high calks, and long feet are always classed among 

 the conditions which may excite the growth of sidebones. They are 

 often seen in connection with contracted heels, ringbones, navicular 

 diseases, punctured wounds of the foot, quarter crack, and occasion- 

 ally as a sequel to founder. 



Symjitoms. — In the earlier stages of the disease, if inflammation is 

 present, the only evidence of the trouble to be detected is a little 

 fever over the seat of the affected cartilage and a slight lameness. In 

 the lameness of sidebones the toe of the foot first strikes the ground 

 and tlie step is shorter than natural. The subject comes out of the 

 stable stiff and sore, but the gait is more free after exercise. 



