THE NAVICULAR-JOINT DISEASE. 
167 
decay from cariousness. Besides this, bony adhesions have 
often taken place between the navicular bone and the 
pastern, which consequently render this joint altogether 
unserviceable. 
Remedies. —Like some other diseases incidental to the 
horse, the cure of this is very uncertain. The first thing to 
be adopted is bleeding from the nearest vein. After which 
a poultice should be applied to allay the inflammation, and 
the bowels should be kept open. The following purgative 
should be given in the form of a ball, and repeated as long 
as is required. 
Barbadoes aloes . . 5 drachms, 
Castile soap . . 2 drachms, 
Oil of caraways . . 8 drops. 
The ball should be formed with a little lintseed-meal and 
treacle. 
If this complaint is discovered at its commencement, and 
before ulceration of the membrane has taken place, a cure 
may readily be effected ; but on the contrary if the mem¬ 
brane is ulcerated before remedies are applied, the difficulty 
in eradicating it will be exceedingly great, if not impos¬ 
sible. Caries of the bone is certain to take place, and that 
condition can never be changed. Blistering the coronet 
has been found beneficial in assisting a cure, by removing 
the inflammation to another part and expediting the growth 
of the horny substance. Setons passed through the part, 
as contiguous to the seat of the disease as possible, have 
either lessened the complaint or entirely removed it. 
But this disease is altogether of so delicate a nature, that 
we would not advise its cure to be attempted by an un¬ 
skilful person, as it is one of those which can only be 
successfully taken up by an experienced veterinary surgeon. 
