LAMENESS, FROM VARIOUS CAUSES. 331 
it is supposed that a predisposition to this affection may Jurk in 
the breed ; in fact, it is known that a tendency to it exis.s in the 
progeny of certain horses. It is related that the progeny of 
“Young Musician,” a thorough-bred horse, all showed a tendency 
to navicular disease. 
Treatment.—We first ascertain whether the difficulty is of an 
acute or chronic character. Should it have made its appearance 
very suddenly, and the part feels hot and painful, then we class 
it as the acute stage. Should the trouble, however, be of long 
standing, it will be in the chronic stage. In the acute stage, cold 
water bandages must be applied to the region of the fetlock, which 
should be kept wet with water, to which may be added a little 
vinegar, merely to acidulate the former; the patient should be 
kept at rest, and fed on a light diet. In the chronic stage, coun- 
ter-irritants are indicated, yet organic disease may be the result; 
in that event, the horse has always a sort of groggy walk, and is 
aever sound, 
Neurotomy has been practiced in view of treating this affection, 
vut I can not perceive how such an operation can benefit a horse 
naving an organic difficulty. Neurotomy merely destroys, for a 
short time, the sensibility of certain parts of the foot ; but so soon 
as the divided nerve reunites, sensibility is again restored. ‘There 
may, however, occur some form of lameness which might be bene- 
fited by neurotomy, but I think the same thing might be achieved 
by counter-irritation, and without the use of the knife. The coun- 
ter-irritant I have found most useful is as follows: 
No. 53. Cod-liver of] ......ecee0. aielarGians alate wie “e ~ 2 on. 
FE @TOSENGC severe are sto: oa ays! ole; ero%8 si20 sue 04 heise HOR: 
Cantharides ....... dbus wieivieveige ste eecvew a LOT, 
Mix. 
Apply a portion of the above to the navicular region, between 
the heels and fetlock, on the back paz, once or twice daily, until 
the part is well blistered, which will take place at the end of a 
week, The more thorough the blistering, the more chance is there 
of doing good. No after-dressing need be applied, unless the 
parts hecome very sore; in that event, I should lubricate with 
olive oil, 
It wil. be necessary, in chronic cases, to secure the services of 
a youd blacksmith, so that the animal may have a shoe affixed 
properly adapted to the necessities of the case. If any signs of 
