642 
NAVICULAR DISEASE. 
the curving inwards of the heels, the blood-stains in the white line and 
at points in the sole, are, however, sufficiently distinctive, while in 
contracted sole pain is more marked after pressure on the sole than on 
the frog, and lameness generally appears after shoeing, and disappears 
with careful paring of the sole and appropriate shoeing. Horses with 
contracted sole not infrequently go more distinctly lame on soft than on 
hard ground, but in navicular disease the reverse is the case. 
(2) Gieatei difficulty is sometimes offered by cases of “ wiring-in of 
the heels, which also at times appears as a symptom of navicular 
disease. Usually, however, there is then increased pulsation and pain 
on pressure over the quarters, though “wiring-in” of a secondary 
character may contribute to lameness. In such case the frog should be 
carefully tested with the pincers. 
(3) Sprain of the posterior ligaments of the coronet-joint. This 
lameness is usually more severe. The posterior surface of the coronet- 
joint is then the. seat of pain, whilst pressure on the sole causes no 
flinching (compare with “ Inflammation of the Posterior Ligaments of 
the Coronet-joint”). 
(4) Some caution is required where thrush is present. If sufficiently 
extensive to involve the greater part of the frog, pressure on the parts 
may produce symptoms simulating those of navicular disease. The 
operator should then try the effect of forced dorsal flexion, which is not 
painful in thrush. 
(5) The symptoms of sesamoid lameness present a certain similarity to 
those of navicular disease (see “ Sesamoid Lameness”) ; a careful local 
examination is therefore necessary. 
Treatment. As above stated, recovery is only possible when the local 
changes aie capable of lepair. Disease which starts as an acute bursitis 
or tenositis offers some chance of cure, though inflammation soon 
extends to the articular cartilage of the navicular bone, and the 
condition becomes as intractable as if it started at this point. In recent 
cases, long rest and antiphlogistic treatment sometimes check inflamma¬ 
tion and assist repair. The horse may be turned out to graze in a 
meadow with a clay bottom, where the soil is always moist. If kept in a 
box soft bedding, like sawdust, tan-bark, or peat, should be provided, 
and the feet kept moist, thoioughly paring the hoof, so as to assist the 
action of cold moist applications, is useful. Shortening the toe and 
shoeing with “ tips ” is also of value. The presumed efficacy of bleeding 
(recommended by Turner and Goodwin) and of frog-setons (Sewell) 
depends on errors in diagnosis. In recent cases, the rest rendered 
necessary by setoning assists repair, but Brauell rightly questions the 
lesoibent action of setons : continued rest is known to temporarily 
alleviate the lameness, and is sometimes resorted to by horse-dealers 
