THE 
VETERINARIAN. 
VOL. XX, No. 235. JULY 1847. New Series, No. 67. 
LAMENESS IN HORSES. 
By William Percivall, M.R.C.S. and V.S. 
[Continued from p. 251.] 
SYMPTOMS OF NAVICULARTHRITIS. 
THE FIRST OR EARLIEST SYMPTOM OF NAVICULARTHRITIS, 
according to Dr. Brauell, is 'pointing of the foot ; though, from the 
unlikelihood of its being discovered or attracting notice, or from 
the little heed that is taken of it, supposing it to be observed, so 
long as the horse continues to go sound, it has in general escaped 
mention as such. Commonly, 
Lameness is the Symptom which first strikes atten- 
tion. Now, lameness may make its appearance on a sudden, or 
it may come on by degrees : in the former case it being often in- 
tense in the first instance; in the latter, ordinarily slight, and 
mostly transitory. 
A horse shall quit his stable for work or exercise in his usual 
state of soundness, but while out shall drop suddenly lame. At 
the moment, his rider or driver imagines he has trodden upon a 
stone or picked up one, and under such supposition hastes to in- 
spect the foot. No stone, however, is found in the foot, — no signs 
of one having been lodged there. The horse, unable to pursue his 
journey, is walked home, probably has his shoe taken off by the 
farrier, and his lame foot examined. Still, nothing is discovered 
to account for the lameness ; neither is there any perceptible swel- 
ling or heat about the leg. The horse not recovering his sound- 
ness, some veterinary surgeon is called in, and the mystery be- 
comes cleared up. Numerous instances might be adduced of this 
occurrence : one will suffice here. 
A very sound fine-actioned horse, twelve years old, ridden by 
VOL. XX. 3 c 
