THE VETERINARY SCIENCE 
bleeds from slight injury and is often quite difficult to treat 
successfully. 
Treatment. — Pare away the dead portion of the horn, 
cutting the growth ofif with it. Bleeding during this opera- 
tion may be quite profuse. To check this burn with nitric 
acid. Apply it with a feather, after which cover the whole 
of the bottom of the foot with tow and pine tar. In order to 
hold the tow and tar in place and have a moderate amount of 
pressure place a piece of sole leather between the shoe and 
foot. Tack the shoe on with a couple of nails, so that it can 
be removed easily in a c )uple of days to apply a fresh supply 
of tow and tar. Repeat this treatment every few days until 
the growth is killed and the foot regains its natural condition. 
17. Coffin Joint Lameness (Navicular Disease). 
This is becoming a very common disease, and is met with 
mostly in driving horses. 
Causes. — Hard and fast work is the usual cause. Animals 
with short, upright pastern jomts, short, stubby action, or 
horses with high pounding action are more often afifected 
with this disease. Allowing the toes to grow too long and 
cutting down the heels when shoeing them will cause it. 
Symptoms. — There is usually more or less lameness. In 
some cases it comes on suddenly and is severe, while in 
others it gradually comes on for weeks, and sometimes for 
months, before it is much noticed. While standing he points 
the feet out, and in some cases this is the first symptom 
noticed. If both feet are affected the horse suffers pain and 
while standing first throws the weight on one foot and then 
on the other. In traveling he has what is known as a groggy 
action. Anoth-er well marked symptom is a wasting of the 
muscles of the chest. On examining the feet the heels will be 
found to be contracted and hara. By raising the foot up and 
pressing with the thumb on the back part of the heel the 
horse is made to flinch. Notice the shoe he has been wear- 
ing. It is found to be worn mostly at the toe. 
Treatment. — If a bad case of long standing it is incur- 
able, but if taken in time it may be cured. Rest the horse 
and bathe the feet twice a day for an hour or two at a time 
(if in the winter bathe with warm water, if in summer use 
cold water). After bathing apply white liniment around the 
top of the hoof and every night poultice the foot with hot 
