ON THE NAVICULAR DISEASE. 47 



close inspection, I have observed a sound straggling 

 straw or two lying between the heels of the shoe 

 and the pavement remaining entire, and escaping 

 being flattened for a considerable time, in fact, till 

 somethino; disturbs the animal, or attracts hisatten- 

 tion. I could very much wish to call this false 

 pointing, in contradistinction to direct pointing. Direct pointing 

 There is also another mode of shifting and easing 

 the foot, which is more obvious, viz. the bent or 

 tremulous knee. 



Pain, together with this continued habit of resting, 

 diminishes the size of the limb generally, from the 

 hoof even to the muscles covering the shoulder- 

 blade or scapula ; but in cases of very long duration, 

 I beg to invite your attention to a considerable 

 alteration in the mass of muscle immediately above 

 the olecranon, called the triceps extensor cubiti, 

 which seems preternaturally contracted, and ceases 

 to exhibit that plump and prominent appearance ob- 

 servable in the sound limb of the living and well- 

 formed horse. 



Running the patient in hand at a slow trot ma- 

 terially assists us in forming our diagnosis, by ob- 

 serving the manner in which the lame foot is placed 

 on the ground, whether flat, or principally upon the 

 toe or the heels ; but 1 feel quite at a loss to de- 

 lineate on paper the peculiar gait of the animal, 

 which I have observed in these lamenesses. 



Before I pronounce the case to be navicular lame- 



