NAVICULAR DISEASE IN THE FEET OF HOUSES. 
27 
like ivory, and duly lubricated with synovia, is in jeopardy, and 
only requires two or three more concurring circumstances to effect 
a lesion within its delicate organization; and this frequently hap¬ 
pens instantaneously. 
I conceive that the rigidity of the posterior parts of the foot 
(the navicular joint not having suffered any injury) conveys to the 
animal the sensation, not of pain, but merely slight restraint or 
compression, which is attended with a corresponding want of con¬ 
fidence, that induces him to give an undue bias to the weight 
towards the toe or front of his foot; the laminae of the fore part 
of the coffin bone sustaining the burden, while the navicular bone 
and heels of the coffin economically receive only so much of the 
superincumbent weight as the degenerated harsh spring may be 
capable of disposing of; and therefore a condition of the foot is 
produced which approaches to disease . Thus, I think, may be 
solved the greatest of all mysteries regarding excellence in the 
movement of this incomparably useful animal, viz. that a valuable 
horse, highly gifted with action, and in the prime of life and 
spirits, suddenly ceases to convey to the rider that indescribable 
pleasant sensation which had always before distinguished him 
from common horses; his action becomes limited in his slow paces 
without any apparent cause; and yet his mode of going might 
defy the competent veterinarian to pronounce him lame, although 
brought cool from the stable on the pavement; and the owner is 
the more perplexed, in proportion as he himself attempts to ascer¬ 
tain the cause. If the horse happens to be a fast trotter, he tries 
him for a spirt: u Oh ! says he, he never performed his mile in less 
time in his life.” 
If, instead of a trotting horse, it be an accomplished hunter, he 
returns from the chase, and exclaims in ecstacy, a We have gone 
the best pace without a check, and he has carried me brilliantly !” 
when, perhaps, on the preceding day, he had ridden him five 
or six miles, at a walk or stoic trot, and returned thoroughly dis¬ 
gusted with him; for, instead of performing with his wonted grace 
and elegance in a firm, flat step, not only regardless of the weight 
of his rider above, but equally as independent of the stones be¬ 
low, he shuffled, broke frequently from the walk into a jog, dropped 
occasionally, nowand then dug his toe or pegged it against a stone, 
a failing before unknown with this faultless animal. Under these 
inauspicious circumstances, the style of his slow trot, to a by¬ 
stander, would appear only on a level with that of a sound horse 
possessing merely the ordinary degree of action, so that the 
owner would be the only person aware, from his knowledge of 
the previous merits of this animal, that he had lost any thing. 
Now, you will naturally ask, What has he lost? I answer, the 
equilibrium or natural adjustment of the superincumbent weight . 
