NORTH OF ENGLAND VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 795 
be applied to the coronets. By adopting these measures I have 
frequently succeeded in arresting the progress of the disease. 
“ In other instances the disease has continued without the slightest 
impression being made upon it; in which case I resort to the intro¬ 
duction of a frog-seton as the most likely means of affording relief, 
by bringing our treatment more directly in contact with the parts 
under the diseased action. I must state, however, that even this 
treatment I have found very uncertain ; perfect success gained in one 
case is no sure guide to the same result, or a valid reason for its 
subsequent adoption, in a second. If, after all these means have 
failed, and our patient probably of very little service, we have 
recourse to the operation of neurotomy—in performing which it is 
necessary to take into consideration the suitability of the foot to 
undergo the wear and tear to which it will be subject afterwards— 
if it is a good strong foot there will be comparatively little danger 
of after ill-consequences ; if a thin, weak foot, it would be very 
liable to become bruised, and sloughing to take place as a natural 
result. 
“ The immediate effects of the operation are instant relief from 
pain; and as a result, probably, ulceration may be arrested, granu¬ 
lations and plastic lymph thrown out, joining the tendon and bone 
together, thus preventing motion, and causing the animal to go 
stiffly, a termination probably brought about by the extra weight 
now imposed. 
“ If ulceration of the tendon or bone has proceeded to any con¬ 
siderable extent, either is likely to give way under the weight 
thrown upon it. 
“ Sometimes one posterior branch of the nerve below the fetlock 
alone is divided, thus depriving the foot partially only of its sensa¬ 
tion, a plan which finds favour with some practitioners. 
“ In all cases where navicular disease is decidedly in existence, I 
think it very desirable to shoe with leather soles and stopping. 
“ In concluding these remarks on navicular disease, I cannot but 
think that its existence is by no means so frequent as generally sup¬ 
posed, and that other pathological conditions of the feet, the nature 
of which have not been so much investigated, are confounded 
with it.” 
The discussion which ensued occupied the whole of two hours, 
and was ably supported by the President, Messrs. Thompson, 
Dudgeon, M‘Gregor, Hunter, Armitage, and many others, the 
remarks of the President being worthy of great reflection. 
Mr. Armitage spoke of the evidences which had come- before 
him, indisputably claiming for the disease hereditary tendencies; 
but of its frequent occurrence among our hard-worked town, trade, 
cab, harness, and dray-horses, &c., that state which had been so 
confidently asserted as being in these animals navicular disease 
he was disposed to deny. Many cases treated as such, and, of 
course, unsuccessfully—thereby stamping the character of incu¬ 
rability and intractability to a disease which has no other evi¬ 
dence of existence but in imagination—if properly examined, their 
