THE EDITOR. 
569 
I found him lying at his length, and his body chafed severely 
in several places, from his ineffectual struggles to rise. Suppu- 
ration had taken place round the whole of the coronet — pus had 
formed, and was discharged at several openings ; and there was 
every appearance of the hoof soon sloughing off. He was a 
valuable five-year-old cart horse, and had only been purchased 
about three weeks previous to the accident. He had been at- 
tended by a farrier, and, as there seemed no prospect of amend- 
ment, it was intended that he should be destroyed ; but before 
doing this, it was determined to consult me. 
My opinion was, that he might recover, and become useful, 
although with some deformity of the hoof. The probe indicated 
that the coffin-bone was either fractured, or a portion of it exfoli- 
ating ; but l expected that, when the portion of bone was removed, 
the part would heal up. In order to effect this and relieve the 
animal, as much of the hoof was removed as possible ; the swelling 
round the coronet was punctured with a lancet in several places, 
in order to allow the free escape of the matter ; and the foot was 
enveloped in a bran poultice, which was changed twice every day. 
As nearly one-half of the hoof was removed, and the pressure 
thereby relieved, great mitigation of pain was speedily afforded. 
The inflammation began to subside, and the outer alae of the cof- 
fin-bone became detached, and was removed. There still, not- 
withstanding, was found a small portion of bone in a state of ex- 
foliation, but so fixed that it could not be removed. Time, how- 
ever, with the injection of gentle stimulants and soothing poultices, 
ultimately promoted the detachment of the portion of bone, 
which, on enlarging the orifice, and laying hold of it with a pair 
of forceps, and drawing it out under the coronary ligament, 
proved to be the entire navicular bone, which had separated from 
its attachments, and \vas moving horizontally towards the outside 
quarter of the foot. A small portion of bone soon afterwards 
sloughed from the anterior process of the coffin-bone, and the 
whole of the sinuses are now healed up, — the hoof sufficiently 
grown to allow a shoe to be put on ten days ago, and the horse 
standing and walking on it with great freedom. He is now at 
grass, to allow time for the hoof to grow and the foot to acquire 
strength, before he is put to work. When the hoof has fully 
grown, there is every prospect of there being little or any de- 
formity of the foot or coronet. 
FromW. F. Karkeek, Esq., Truro. 
Dear Sir, — I have carefully read the letter with which you 
favoured me, and the remarks of Mr. Morton on the present state 
and future prospects of the veterinary profession. It appears to 
