34 ON THE NAVICULAR DISEASE. 



writer on the foot : of course, I allude more parti- 

 cularly to the occult contraction, as connected with 

 Jemediannoa- lavicular laniencss. The timely application of re- 

 anJecclFen'r medial mcasurcs for the prevention of lameness 

 tonip dint. ^ould contribute more to the public weal than the 

 discovery of an infallible cure for glanders ; of such 

 frequent and daily occurrence is this chronic foot 

 lameness. 



If the foregoing observations are well founded, it 

 follows, that one of the first indications of cure will 

 be the depression of the coffin bone, in order that that 

 bone, together with the navicular, may resume its 

 original and natural situation, which will be found, 

 on the inspection of a considerable number of colts' 

 feet, between the ages of three and four years, to 

 approach much nearer the ground or base of the 

 foot than is generally supposed. 



By way of illustration, and speaking generally, I 

 will venture to assert, that the nearer the heels of 

 the coffin bone, by the conformation of the foot, 

 reach the surface of the ground, the less likely is the 

 navicular joint to become diseased, and vice versa. 

 Such instances are numerous in low heels and flat 

 soles ; but when these weak, thin feet occasionally 

 fail with navicular disease, the cause is totally of a 

 different nature, and may be generally (raced to an 

 accidental bruise from a stone. 



On this principle I account for the well-known 

 fact of a certain description of active horses, possess- 



