ON THE NAVICULAR DISEASE. 51 



wlifcli, before the blood-letting, were on the point 

 of rupture or loss of vitality, arising from over-dis- 

 tention, and which have just time to contract vigo- 

 rously on their diminished contents one second be- 

 fore the fresh charge is supplied from the great pump 

 and arterial trunks. 



It may be argued, that the taking of one half the 

 quantity from the part affected, and the other half 

 by general bleeding, in immediate succession, would 

 answer the purpose equally well. I apprehend not, 

 and for this reason : that I conceive the influence 

 of the operation on the inflamed part and on the 

 heart is reciprocal by the plan I have proposed ; but 

 in the other method there would be this important 

 difl'erence, that while blood was flowing from the 

 system generally, the reaction would commence in 

 the capillaries of the inflamed part before syncope 

 could be produced, and therefore just at the crisis 

 their volume would have again become too great 

 for the vigorous contraction before mentioned, and, 

 consequently, the patient would only be relieved, 

 instead of being cured. 



Another indication of cure, and which is of no less Dotrusion of 



the coffin and 



importance to prevent the recurrence of in flam ma- 'navicular 



' •■ bones. 



tion within the navicular joint, consists in the return 

 or detrnsion of the coflin and navicular bones to 

 their original and natural situation within the horny 

 box ; but even this having been accomplished, and 

 the case no longer requiring treatment, we have yet 



e2 



