216 LIVERPOOL VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 
existence of any predisposing cause, except that as the members could 
see the feet had been much neglected and allowed to grow very long. 
Mr. Wilson thought that in many cases of breakdown mismanage¬ 
ment of the feet was a chief cause, the toes rarely being sufficiently 
shortened. 
Mr. Roberts related a case of true breakdown in the thorough¬ 
bred horse Nuneaton, for which he fired him with a flat-iron, the 
result being very satisfactory. 
Mr. Heyes thought, from the contracted appearance of the feet, 
it was very probable the horse was the subject of disease in the 
navicular joint. He thought it would be interesting and instructive 
to ascertain whether such was the case. 
(The President desired preparations of the feet to be made and 
exhibited at the next meeting, Mr. Wilson having volunteered to 
dissect one and Mr. Lawson the other.) 
In reply to a question from Mr. Roberts, Mr. Lawson stated the 
horse had short, groggy action ; and to one by the President that 
he had not been neurotomized. 
The President said it was a case of much interest, and one from 
which some practical knowledge should be gained. In his opinion 
the fracture occurred during a forward slip on the grass. 
The Secretary thought unconscious movement had something to 
do with it; if the flexor muscles of the limb did not contract at the 
proper moment, an increased strain would be thrown upon the 
sesamoideal ligaments, the integrity of which being greater than 
that of the attached bones, fracture of the latter would result. 
Mr. Proctor considered the extent of leverage to the ligaments 
being so much increased by the abnormal condition of the feet was 
sufficient to determine the fracture. 
After according a vote of thanks to the President and Mr. Lawson 
the meeting dissolved. 
Richard Reynolds, 
Hon. Sec. 
