40 ON THE NAVICULAR DISEASE. 



What has been said appHes to a case of lameness 

 of one foot only. When both fore feet are affected, 

 I usually take about five quarts of blood from the 

 lamer foot, and two quarts from the other, on the 

 same day. 



The sole and every part of the hoof should now 

 be suffered to grow unmolested, except the toe, 

 which is to be abruptly shortened at the expiration 

 of every fortnight, regardless of the disfigurement 

 of the foot, only taking care not to risk suppuration 

 or fester by approaching too near the quick. 



This, however, must be deferred till the horn at 



A loose stable ^^^ blccdiug orificc is sufficiently restored to allow 



wtha sawdust ^f ^^^ horsc Standing without shoes, which may be 



soon discontinued, provided the patient is turned in 



the daytime into a loose box floored with sawdust, 



which should be watered dailv. 



I have a twofold object in view for thus shorten- 

 ing the toe at this stage of the treatment : it will 

 be remembered that the entire base of the foot, to- 

 gether with the inside quarter, including the bars, 

 commissures, and frog, have been already unfettered, 

 consequently the aptitude of these parts to receive 

 the superincumbent weight quietly in the stable 

 cannot, I think, be questioned by any unprejudiced 

 veterinarian : to me it appears the critical moment 

 for effectually expanding the foot whilst the fibres 

 of the hoof are as flexible as wet paper, not by tlie 

 unscientific force of a wrenching screw-shoe, but 



