254 
VETERINARY JURISPRUDENCE. 
surface of the flexor tendon where it plays over the navicular bone 
forming the joint, becomes rough. All this may be going on without 
the slightest degree of active disease or inflammatory action existing, 
and up to a certain point, without having occasioned the slightest 
lameness. It may have been progressing for many months, probably 
for years, before any abrasion or ulceration of the articular surface of 
the joint has become effected, or the navicular bone become hollow 
from absorption, but ultimately in all bad cases of navicular disease, 
the capsular joint of the navicular bone becomes obliterated and de¬ 
stroyed. Some cases begin with acute inflammation, others come on 
gradually ; but there is never any very acute inflammation., When the 
disease is at its very commencement, if caused by extra work or concus¬ 
sion, and you should find it out the first day of the horse being lame, you 
can see by examination that there is inflammation going on, but not in 
all cases. Navicular disease may arise from natural predisposition, or 
what is called hereditary causes; it may creep on as it were up to a cer¬ 
tain point, and then by receiving a little extra work in breaking, hunting, 
or being knocked about at a fair, occasioning concussion or bruise at the 
bottom of the foot, it passes the crisis, developes the lameness, and the horse 
will go immediately lame and continue lame, off and on, throughout life. 
You examined this horse on the 7th of March; now, supposing the fact 
was that he was lame on the 20th of November, and also that you found 
him lame on the 7th of March, should you suppose, from those two facts, 
that the lameness was from the same disease ?—I should. There was an 
absence of all other diseases that create lameness. 
Something about alteration of structure was asked Mr. Lawson. I 
suppose chronic lameness cannot exist without some alteration of the 
structure internally ?— Internally ? There was no visible alteration of 
structure externally. It was a remarkably good foot, iust that sort of 
foot in which is frequently found navicular disease. It was a remark¬ 
ably good foot, having wide frog and bulbous heels. 
Is it very uncommon to have no alteration externally? Would it 
lead you to doubt whether it is a navicular disease or not ? Mr. Lawson 
told us that the rule was, that an alteration of structure would be found, 
but that there were plenty of exceptions.—It frequently happens when 
the disease has been in existence for a long time that there is an altera¬ 
tion of the structure, but not necessarily. 
Is there any rule as to the length of 1 time necessary to bring on the 
alteration of the structure ?—It depends upon whether the inflammation 
has been severe, and the pain caused the horse to nurse the foot, and 
for some time to lay but little weight upon it; if so, the horn becomes 
so dry and brittle that the contraction goes on more rapidly. If the 
disease has been slow, the horse suffering little pain, laying his whole 
weight upon the foot, and maintaining the expansion, it may be for years 
not contracted. 
Cross-examined by Mr. Serjeant O'Brien: —If I understand you rightly, 
you say this disease may commence or originate from the effects of an 
injury ?—Then you may expect acute inflammation for a time. It may 
also arise from predisposing causes in the foot itself, or in the constitution 
of the animal, when it would creep on gradually. 
The horse was out of condition when you saw it ?—Not particularly 
so. He had pretty well of flesh on him. I was not aware he had been 
treated for bronchitis. 
You say a strain or sprain might have produced it?—Yes; rather 
more likely a concussion. I saw the horse last Sunday, and the foot was 
in the same condition still. What I formed my conclusion on is this—- 
