NAVICULAR DISEASE IN THE FEET OF HORSES. 31 
turned loose into a large box, without exercise; his diet the 
same as in physic ; the emollient paste to be applied the next 
day, lukewarm, and repeated daily. 
About the third or fourth day he may commence walking exer¬ 
cise, on litter or a dry surface. About the fifth or sixth day after 
the operation, the shoe to be removed ; and, if the orifice of the 
bleeding place is found to be healed, and free from fester, the 
blood-letting is to be repeated on the opposite toe, approaching 
towards the outside quarter. Immediately before the repetition 
of the bleeding is the proper time to lower the heels and shorten 
the toe as much as they ivill hear , yet taking particular care to 
leave a sufficient body of crust, at every part, to afford a solid basis 
for the shoe to rest upon, except at the inside heel, which has 
before been directed to be entirely removed. 
With this fresh paring of the foot, the shoe will require to be 
refitted, and a single hole punched in the inside quarter, in order 
to receive a nail as a substitute for the one necessarily left out at 
the second perforation in bleeding. 
The emollient paste and half dose of physic to be repeated, 
and the horse kept quiet for two or three days ; after which time 
his exercise should not exceed a foot's pace. In about a week 
from the second bleeding the sole and commissures will bear 
another trimming; but the crust, bars, and frog, should now be 
allowed to grow. 
At this stage of the case, an ointment composed of tar and 
hog’s-lard should be applied cold to the sole, instead of the 
emollient paste, w T hich may be still continued to the crust. 
What has been said applies to a case of lameness of one foot 
only. When both fore feet are affected, I usually take about five 
quarts of blood from the lamer foot, and two quarts from the other, 
on the same day. 
The sole and every part of the hoof should now be suffered to 
grow unmolested, except the toe, which is to be abruptly 
shortened at the expiration of every fortnight, regardless of the 
disfigurement of the foot, only taking care not to risk suppuration 
or fester by approaching too near the quick. 
This, however, must be deferred till the horn at the bleeding 
orifice is sufficiently restored to allow of the horse standing with¬ 
out shoes, which may be soon discontinued, provided the patient 
is turned in the day-time into a loose b'ox floored with sawdust, 
which should be watered daily. 
I have a twofold object in view for shortening the toe to an 
extreme during rest under treatment: the principal one consists 
in rendering the front part of the foot very sore, so as to induce the 
animal to transfer his weight more towards the back part of his 
