NAVICULAR-JOINT DISEASE. 293 



necessary. When the inflammation is slightly re- 

 duced, the coronets and legs of both fore members 

 should be blistered ; the feet being constantly kept 

 moist and cool by means of swabs soaked in the lini- 

 ment recommended for brittle hoof. After some relief 

 has been obtained, the horse should be put to plough ; 

 care being taken that the draught is not too heavy. 

 The regular and slow work he will thus get will do 

 him much good. He ought to have become sound for 

 three or four months at least before he is again taken 

 to fast work. This is a long business, but only by 

 such tedious means can a cure be obtained; and 

 during all this while the foot must be constantly pared 

 and stopped, the one-sided shoe or tip being worn. 



Should all these means fail ; or should the disease 

 be established, neurotomy is the only resort. This 

 operation will not cure the disease ; but it will render 

 the foot insensible and enable the horse to be of ser- 

 vice to its owner. Even for neurotomy, however, the 

 foot must be selected. Where the hoof is strong, the 

 operation will nearly always be successful ; but where 

 it is low and weak; not sufficiently protected; the 

 animal, from the loss of sensation in it, will bruise and 

 injure the senseless foot. Inflammation will be excited ; 

 suppuration will follow, and the hoof will slough off. 

 In old cases, when the tendon has shared the ulcera- 

 tion ; or the bone has become so diseased as to be al- 

 most eaten through ; then, after neurotomy, the tendon 

 has ruptured ; or the bone has fractured ; the horse, 

 in either case, being necessarily destroyed. Thus 

 neurotomy for its success requires to be performed im- 

 mediately after the recognition of the disease, 

 o 3 



