ON THE NAVICULAR DISEASE AND SPAVIN. 153 
the whole of its basis, the want of which in the hoof-shod horse 
compels some parts to sustain more than the intended quantum 
of the superincumbent weight, which destroys the natural equili¬ 
brium, and induces more or less deformity in every part of the foot. 
On the Cure of the Navicular Disease. 
Mr. Turner states, that the first indication of it is the de¬ 
pression of the coffin bone: but we often have cases of the dis¬ 
ease occurring without the bone being displaced ; and therefore I 
contend that the first indication is the abatement of inflammation 
in the affected joint. 
When the hoof appears of its natural shape, and we have no 
certain marks to indicate the cause of lameness being in the navi¬ 
cular joint, I should deem it an uncalled for practice to com¬ 
mence bleeding at the toe in such quantity as to produce an effect 
on the system, or to remove the horn from the sole and quarter, as 
Mr. Turner prescribes; but I should first try the effect of one ge¬ 
neral bleeding, a dose of physic, and rest, with the foot poulticed. 
Mr. Turner proceeds, on the third or fourth day, to give walk¬ 
ing exercise, which treatment cannot, I am sure, be either 
practically or theoretically consistent with surgical principles. 
Instead of making the animal injuriously bear his whole w r eight, 
in action, on a joint in a state of inflammation, I prescribe rest, 
until the lameness disappears; and I conceive benefit to be pro¬ 
duced by keeping the frog soft and elastic by poultices. I also 
apply to the leg a wet bandage, to keep up evaporation, which 
lessens the action of the vessels in the limb. 
The next part of the treatment Mr. Turner has qualified by 
stating, that “ many practitioners may view it as an unwarrantable 
violation of nature: it consists in the entire removal of the crust 
or wall at the inside heel, and the bar adjoining; the direct 
object for such a step is the unfettering the inside heel of the 
coffin bone.” The practice of removing the horn from one or both 
quarters I have seen pursued, in many cases of lameness, with¬ 
out the slightest benefit to the joint, although the horn has been 
reproduced in its natural form; nor can I imagine how the un¬ 
fettering of one end of the coffin bone, which of course leaves the 
opposite end still elevated, can produce the desired return of 
equilibrium in these parts. Mr. Turner directs that the toe be 
pared to the quick, having, he says, a two-fold object in view 
for shortening the toe to an extreme; the principal one “ con¬ 
sists in rendering the front part of the foot very sore, so as to in¬ 
duce the animal to transfer his weight more towards the back 
part and on the navicular bone, thus rendering everv minute con¬ 
ducive to the depression of the navicular bone and the heels of 
VOL. 111. Y 
