ON THE NAVICULAR DISEASE AND SPAVIN. 
149 
cripple afterwards. Such, at least, has been the termination of 
the few cases that have come under my notice, in spite of every 
effort to prevent such a result. 
Navicular Disease. 
Having made these few preliminary observations, I proceed to 
draw your attention to the navicular disease, as it is called, and to 
remark upon the nature and treatment of it, as laid down in 
a paper lately read to you by Mr. James Turner. 
The term navicular disease is by no means a descriptive name 
for the affection that it is intended to designate ; but it has been 
so termed from the disease occurring on the under surface of a 
bone of the foot called the navicular bone by ancient anatomists, 
from its supposed resemblance to a ship (navis). As, however, 
we generally understand what is meant by the term, I shall 
not venture to suggest any other to supply its place. 
During my pupillage at the Veterinary College, I well remem¬ 
ber that Mr. J. Turner, in the year 1816, drew the attention of 
the professors and students to his observations on this disease, 
in a paper which has been since published (vide Veterinarian, 
vol. ii, p. 53), and which he read at that time, in the lecture room. 
Previous to that period, although Jhe disease had been seen by 
others, no mention had ever been made of its being the general 
cause of lameness. 
To shew the ignorance of Mr. Coleman as to its existence, 
I must relate that he observed, that Mr. Turner’s paper was cer¬ 
tainly an ingenious one, although he was persuaded that the 
disease alluded to by Mr. T. was of very rare occurrence. 
Mr. Assistant Sewell was tenacious that the discovery should 
emanate from any one besides the professors within the College 
walls, and spoke of his portfolio containing accurate descriptions 
of the disease. 
However, time and public voice have given that credit to Mr. 
J. Turner, which our discerning and liberal professors were then 
unwilling to accord to him: 
“ Mcruuit qui palmam fcrat.” 
Having had many opportunities of making observations on 
the foot of the horse, the different methods of shoeing, and the 
changes the foot undergoes in disease, subjects to which my 
attention was early directed, I may be induced to state my 
opinions,• perhaps, with more confidence than they merit. I 
consider it proper to mention this, particularly as I commence b Y 
differing materially from the opinions of Mr. Turner. It will be 
for you, “ gentlemen,” to decide our differences, and I am sure 
we can neither of us want candour nor feci reserve before such a 
jwy- 
