602 
ON CARPITIS. 
like step in naviculitis, which gives to a rider a sensation of 
the chest being raised up, or an attempt at doing so : further, the 
feet in naviculitis are brought to the ground with the toe first, 
and in consequence the step is short and stilty, from the weight 
being thrown as much as possible on the column of bones, to 
relieve the affected tendon or surface over which it plays ; and 
from the same cause there is great inclination to canter, a pace 
which, when slow, brings into play but slightly the flexor tendons 
or navicular joint. In carpitis, on the contrary, these symptoms 
are reversed, from the cause of lameness being seated on or 
amongst the carpal bones. The effort is not now to throw the weight 
on the bony column, but on to the tendons and ligaments, and 
by this means to avoid concussion ; hence the limb is carried for- 
wards as nearly straight as possible; and, still farther to effect 
this object, it is thrown with a circumductive motion outwards, 
and brought, to the ground with the heels first, as is shewn by 
the wearing away of the points of the heels of the shoe. This 
mode of progression produces a long step, and at the same time the 
fore-quarters are dropped or lowered, which has been, I doubt not, 
the origin of the term “ chest-founder.” There is also a disinclina- 
tion to canter ; and if this pace is attempted, it gives increased pain, 
and a rocking motion exceedingly unpleasant to the rider. 
Another point of difference may be adverted to, which is, 
that in “ carpitis” a horse will hang heavy on the bit ; and if a 
false step is made, it is recovered from with difficulty. This will 
be accounted for by the previous observations ; and when the toe 
strikes any obstacle, which is very apt to occur, it increases the 
lameness of that limb, but which gradually subsides to the pre- 
vious state. In naviculitis the reverse of these are manifested. 
There is one other point of difference; that is, in the manner in 
going down or up rising ground. In carpitis the lameness is in- 
creased in descending and mitigated on ascending ground; in 
naviculitis this is reversed, arising from the same causes as before 
adverted to in speaking of the canter. 
It may appear as an objection, considering there is so much 
lameness, that there is not a great degree of external appearance 
of disease, as is seen in its analogous disease spavin; but that 
objection will vanish when we consider how much sooner a horse 
becomes unfit for use from a lameness in the fore than in the hind 
limbs ; and therefore when a horse lame before is considered to 
be, from whatever cause, irremediably lame, he is not again used 
as a hackney, but is sent to harness, and thus the extra weight of 
a rider being got rid of, and also, in most instances, the pace being 
slower and more equal in harness than in saddle, another fruitful 
aggravation of disease is got rid of or diminished, while the con- 
