1TG 
VETERINARY MEDICAL SOCIETY. 
lie fell decidedly lame. All the usual methods were adopted, 
and as soon as the frost broke the shoe was put on, and the horse 
found to be as lame as at the first; and now, too, there began an 
alteration of the lame foot—the inner quarter was contracted and 
the toe lengthened, and the sole became concave. Then he be¬ 
gan to adopt the plan recommended by Mr. Turner;—but these 
symptoms were consequent on, not antecedent to the disease, 
and no “tact, or talent, or discrimination/’ could have predicted 
their appearance. In truth, these precursor symptoms are 
never found. They indicate the existence and progress of the 
disease—they are the consequence of the disease, but they do not 
precede its attack. This is one point of difference between 
him and Mr. Turner; and the introduction of these imaginary 
precursor symptoms much lessened the value of a treatise on a 
previously unexplained and obstinate disease. 
Mr. Turner hoped that Mr. W. Percivall would perceive, from 
Mr. Goodwin’s very candid explanation, that he had much mis¬ 
understood and misrepresented him. 
Mr. W. Percivall could have no wish to detract from the ac¬ 
knowledged merit of Mr. Turner, as it regarded the discovery 
of the navicular disease, but he really did imagine that the 
question respecting these precursor symptoms was now set at rest. 
Mr. Goodwin would be glad if Mr. Turner would explain his 
reason for rasping the toe in order to increase the obliquity, he 
should have said the perpendicularity, of the foot. 
Mr. Turner would first reply to some remarks on the com¬ 
mencement of the disease. The first indication of cure was to 
depress the coffin bone ; but to prepare for this he commenced by 
thinning the bottom of the foot and bleeding; in other words, 
by abating inflammation. Having abated the inflammation, he 
has recourse to the means best adapted to bring the navicular and 
coffin bones back to their natural situation. As to contraction ; 
if the heels of the coffin bone are elevated, there must be con¬ 
traction. In proportion to the elevation of the frog and bars, 
there must be contraction. If the cavity of the foot is lessened, 
that is contraction. 
Mr. Goodwin said that Mr. Turner’s first indication of cure 
was the depression of the coffin and navicular bones : now he de¬ 
nied that there had been any elevation of them, and he called 
for the proof of this elevation. Mr. Turner rasps the toe to bring 
the weight on the navicular joint; but if that joint be previously 
sore, and the toe be made sore, the horse will not bring his 
weight any where: or if he is compelled to throw his weight on 
the navicular joint, it will be at the certain expense of much pain 
and increased inflammation. To bleed at the toe to abate in- 
