28 
SYMPTOMS AND CURE OF 
the lamina in front of the coffin bone sustaining an undue pro¬ 
portion, whilst the function of the laminated structure of the bars 
and heels is limited, or partially suspended. Hundreds of horses, 
and even young ones, are annually sold in London as sound, 
which have suffered this deterioration, in defiance of the most 
scrupulous examinations as to soundness. 
Now you will contend that, in the case I have proposed, of the 
horse being capable of trotting at the rate of twenty miles an 
hour, or being a weight-carrier up to the fleetest hounds, that he 
must possess elasticity: granted; but the question is, not what 
he now has, but the degree of elasticity he once possessed; and 
we can judge of perfection only by comparison. 
Even a confirmed groggy horse, incurably lame, might be 
selected to accomplish one or other of the feats I have just men¬ 
tioned ; though I must acknowledge it would put in requisition 
the rare remains of one of Nature's masterpieces: still such a 
description of horse is to be found. 
It therefore appears that an incipient defect of this kind may, 
under certain circumstances, alter the animal's action without 
occasioning lameness ; and that a horse, either of breeding or of 
good mettle, when called into quick movement, has his energies 
so far excited as to be totally regardless of the rigidity of this 
spring; that is, supposing the navicular joint to be unimpaired. 
Gentlemen, I fear you will think me prolix, especially as the 
object of this paper is the treatment of disease; but I cannot 
forbear, since this is the precursor from which the foot is suffered 
still further to degenerate, oftentimes for many months, before the 
most attentive observer thinks of consulting us (being uncon¬ 
scious of any disease existing), whereby our skill is frequently 
baffled in the treatment of the other formidable malady, which 
sooner or later supervenes. Moreover, the public have never been 
sufficiently warned of this antecedent disease by any writer on 
the foot: of course, I allude more particularly to the occult con¬ 
traction, as connected with navicular lameness. The timely appli¬ 
cation of remedial measures for th eprevention of lameness, would 
contribute more to the public weal than the discovery of an in¬ 
fallible cure for glanders; of such frequent and daily occurrence 
is this chronic foot lameness. 
If the foregoing observations are well founded, it follows, that 
the first indication of cure is the depression of the coffin bone , in 
order that that bone, together with the navicular, may resume 
its original and natural situation, as will be found on the in¬ 
spection of a considerable number of coils' feet, between the 
ages of three and four years, which approach much nearer the 
ground or base of the foot than is generally known. 
By way of illustrating and speaking generally, I will venture to 
