DISEASES OF THE JOINTS 443 
and pain in the fetlock on palpation, and a swelling of the 
affected parts, such swelling being at first slight, yielding, 
and barely distinguishable, and afterwards larger, bony and 
hard, and more marked. Later still there is distinct evidence 
of ‘ knuckling ’ over at the fetlock and inability to fully flex it. 
In cases of shoulder lameness the gait alone should be 
sufficient to render liability of error small, for with nearly 
every case there is a manifest inability to ‘get the limb 
forward,’ and this is best seen at a side view when the 
animal is trotting past the observer. When trotting towards 
one, there is a further and unmistakable symptom common 
to most shoulder lamenesses that serves to distinguish it at 
once, and that is the peculiar ‘sweeping’ outwards with 
the affected limb. 
Lastly, with either of the conditions we have just 
mentioned, it is the exception to get contracted foot follow 
on. With navicular disease it sooner or later makes its 
appearance. 
Prognosis.—The prognosis of navicular disease (once 
diagnosed with certainty) must almost of necessity be 
unfavourable. The facts that the disease has made serious 
progress before it is really noticeable, that the situation of 
the parts prohibits operative interference, and that the 
disease is one of a chronic and slowly progressive type, all 
point to an unfavourable termination. 
Treatment.—We have seen from the pathology of this 
disease that it may commence either as a rarefactive ostitis, 
or as a synovitis and tenositis in connection with the bursa. 
With the former condition in existence, or when this and 
the synovitis has led to erosion of the cartilage, treatment 
is probably of no avail, on account of the more chronic 
nature of these two conditions. When, however, the con- 
dition is simply that of synovitis or tenositis, a more or legs 
acute condition, we may assume that suitable treatment and 
a long rest will bring about resolution. 
The first indications in treatment are those of what we 
may term ‘nursing’ the foot. It should have sufficient 
rest, should be placed so as to minimize as far as possible 
