'292 NAVICULAR-JOINT DISEASE. 



were quite sound. He may continue thus changing 

 about for months; or in a very little time he may 

 become dead lame. His manner of going is peculiar. 

 He travels upon his toe, and refuses to bring his heel 

 to the ground. He goes up hill with tolerable ease ; 

 but down hill he is very apt to stumble. He takes 

 very short and quick steps; and by the pattering 

 noise which he makes indicates the nature of his affec- 

 tion. 



With this disease the shape of the foot generally 

 alters ; although this is not always the case. A horse 

 with a good open, or even a low foot, may have na- 

 vicular disease ; but commonly the heels narrow or 

 wire in ; the frog becomes dry and small ; the quarters 

 become high ; the crust becomes thick ; the sole grows 

 concave and hard. The pasterns also get more up- 

 right ; in fact, the general appearance of the foot is 

 changed. 



If taken in the very earliest stage, the disease may 

 yield to treatment; but in the latter stage, though we 

 may relieve, we cannot then hope to cure. A dose 

 of physic, and a little fever or alterative medicine, ac- 

 cording to the state of the horse, will form the con- 

 stitutional measures. The foot, however, requires 

 the most attention. The treatment recommended for 

 contraction must be employed. The sole must be 

 thinned ; the quarters rasped ; blood taken from the 

 toe ; the foot placed in poultices ; very little and gentle 

 exercise being cautiously given. We would enjoin 

 constant rest; yet we fear to injure the health ; but no 

 more motion should be allowed than is absolutely 



