26 
SYMPTOMS AND CURE OF 
agencies, if she is not too abruptly violated. This is completely 
verified in the contracted foot of an old hard-worked horse, free 
from lameness. Nature appears to have had time to adapt her¬ 
self to the change, without inflammation being induced, in that 
degree, however, sufficient to occasion pain. 
The first effect of contraction, whether of the simple or occult 
kind, appears to be absorption ; but, notwithstanding its continu¬ 
ance, we find that the laminae remain entire, also the sensible sole, 
together with the inferior and lateral cartilages, except the latter 
should be ossified; but there is one important organ which falls 
an early sacrifice ; viz. the pulpy substance , commonly called the 
fatty frog or elastic cushion , which becomes in part absorbed . The 
cartilaginous or reticular portion, being a harder body, remains ; 
therefore, it still retains its form in a condensed state, and is yet 
an elastic substance, although degenerated into a hard cushion 
instead of a soft one. Thus it is that that portion of the main 
back sinew of the leg, the flexor perforans tendon, where it forms 
the navicular joint, is no longer embedded in such an elastic me¬ 
dium as would defy all human ingenuity to imitate, which was 
the original condition of the fatty frog. 
The dilapidated state of this spring affects the elasticity of the 
posterior parts of the foot in other ways besides the resistance it 
opposes to the navicular bone in its descent; for I believe the fatty 
frog, as it is called, to be an organ which performs several impor¬ 
tant functions, as regards elasticity alone, and that there is an 
additional reason for the larger half of this elastic mass being 
placed posterior to the navicular joint, besides that of expanding 
the lateral cartilages from its continuity. For, when we consider 
the extensive pulley-like motion between the tendon and the na¬ 
vicular bone, and that all the upper part of this pulley-like sur¬ 
face, from the oblique position in which the bone is placed, could 
not be benefitted by a spring immediately under it; and taking 
also into the account, that the navicular bone, in its descent, 
must incline backward, in unison with the motion of the coffin 
bone, it follows, that a soft pillow was as much required at the 
back as at its base: and, indeed, a more extensive one, as the 
back part of this surface presents a larger space than the inferior. 
Notwithstanding ail this difference between the soft bed and 
the hard one, still it cannot be denied that there are many thou¬ 
sand horses in this country so circumstanced, which go perfectly 
free from lameness ; though I much doubt if any one of them re¬ 
tains the full degree of elasticity in action which he originally 
possessed. 
But the absence of lameness is by no means a proof of the 
harmlessness of this antecedent disease; for the navicular joint of 
such a foot, although sound as adamant, and its surfaces polished 
