SPRAINS OF TENDONS, LIGAMENTS AND MUSCLES. 297 



unsatisfactory, and the prospects of success are extremely un- 

 promising; if, however, it can be detected in the earlier stages 

 there is good reason to anticipate the realization of a successful 

 outcome of the treatment we advocate; the most important matter 

 for the owner to arrive at in the first instance is the detection of 

 the incipient stage — that is, when the bone is becoming congested 

 and before the inflammation has become thoroughly established. 

 The question then arises, how is this point to be determined ? The 

 process of development is slow and insidious, a point certainl}- in 

 favor of treatment, if it is recognized in the early stages; and we 

 should certainly recommend an owner to allow his suspicions to be 

 aroused if a hor.se was observed pointing either one or both feet 

 w^hen standing in the stable; further, if an animal, on being 

 brought out, went slightly lame for a short distance, after which 

 the lameness graduall}^ wore off; if the natural action of the horse 

 showed a tendency to shorten; if there be occa.sional heat, tender- 

 ness and redness in the hollow of the heel; if regular fast work 

 seemed to intensify the tendency to temporary lameness; w'ith 

 these symptoms present we should certainl}^ consider it wnse 

 to suspect incipient navicular disease, and especially so if there 

 were neither splints nor corns present to affect the action of the 

 horse. The treatment under such circumstances would involve a 

 necessity for complete rest; the removal of the shoes; the horse 

 should be compelled to stand in a bed of wet clay during the day, 

 and at night be allowed a bed of moss peat; when taken out of the 

 wet clay, the feet and legs should be carefully washed, the hollow of 

 the heels be thoroughly rubbed with Aniica lotion, usual strength; 

 afterwards the heels should be well padded with tow saturated with 

 the Aniica lotion and surrounded with an ordinary compress to keep 

 the tow moist; for internal medication give ten grains of Silicca 6x, 

 night and morning; this course of treatment should be continued 

 regularl}^ for a fortnight or three weeks; the horse should then be 

 tried without shoes, and if the symptoms indicated as suspicious 

 of navicular disease are discontinued and the animal goes sound, 

 gentle work might be resumed; if not, the treatment had better be 

 continued for a further period; but under no circumstances should 

 a horse that has once gone lame from this cause be shod with 

 ordinary shoes; resort should be had to the Charlier shoe in order 

 to bring pressure upon the sole and frog, or the concussion and jar 



