NAVICULAR DISEASE. 
479 
standing you will have marked contraction of the horny sub- 
stance of the foot. 
Prognosis, Prognosis of this disease is very unfavorable in 
cases of long standing owing to its destructiveness to the joint 
and its membranes involved by this disease. 
Post-mortem, Numerous dissections have shown that the 
navicular bone and tendons forming that joint, are invariably 
the seat of this obscure disease. The cartilage of this joint has 
been found in an ulcerated condition with the bursal membrane 
destroyed ; the bone showing caries in bad cases, and in others 
bony adhesions have taken place in the joint formed by the na¬ 
vicular bone and the os pedis, and in a few cases the foot has 
become disorganized and useless by the ravage of this terrible 
disease. 
Treatment. Nothing has yet been found by the profession 
to be a cure in an established case of navicular disease if disor¬ 
ganization has taken place. But many would have us believe 
that they have the sure and only cure. But in cases where 
a cure has been effected it is certain that disorganization has not 
occurred in the parts affected. We have a number of palliative 
remedies, that are in vogue to-day, of which neurotomy stands 
at the head, and is mostly resorted to by the profession in city 
practice. The common remedy to relieve the suffering animal 
is had by paring the foot well down, rasping the walls at heels 
thin, then placing in a tub of medicated water for a few hours 
soak each day until a new growth is established ; this may be 
carried too far by getting the foot spongy, which must be 
avoided. The soaking is followed by a good blister around the 
coronary substance. After the action of .the blister has sub¬ 
sided, an expanding spring placed in the angles of the heel, and 
shod with light tips and turned out on a meadow bottom for a 
period of rest is a common treatment. 
It only remains to be said that in all well-regulated stables 
care should be taken to keep the horse standing with his front 
feet resting on clay, or in the absence of clay to stuff the feet 
periodically with flaxseed poultice or clay mixed with vinegar. 
