4i 
object the prevention of contraction of the hoof, and although there is without doubt a 
distinct connection between a diseased condition of the internal foot and a dwarfed 
diminished appearance of the external hoof, I have the confidence to believe that no 
one who listens to the reading of this paper tolerates the belief that there exists an 
inherent tendency in the hoof itself to contract, or that such contraction of the hoofs, 
occurs as it was formerly taught, as a primary condition, affecting subsequently the 
internal sensitive tissues, which it protects and defends from injury. Consequently I 
believe that horses may be shod with ordinary shoes properly and intelligently applied, 
for many years, without suffering even the most temporary and slight inconvenience, 
except there exists as there does undoubtedly in a large majority of instances, a predis¬ 
position to inflammation and pain, influenced fully as much by other causes as by the 
wearing of shoes as ordinarily applied. 
Previous to the discovery of the navicular disease, there was even among the 
veterinary profession, no thorough pathological knowledge of the diseases of the feet; 
the same being usually named from some prominent symptom defining the character 
and degree of the lameness itself. 
Founder was the term mostly used to designate a condition, the exact idea of 
which nobody attempted to explain. It signified as it does to-day a “used up” condition, 
from which little hope was had for recovery. 
The term coffin-joint disease was sometimes used and the term laminitis subse¬ 
quently, as it is to-day. 
Until within a short time I have used the term chronic laminitis myself, applying 
it to a condition which I believed existed of which the symptoms are those indicating a 
general uneasy feeling in the feet, which causes the animal to rest them alternately, to 
stand braced out, and to travel as if using the limbs in a manner to relieve pain in 
the shoulders. 
And I have frequently heard other practitioners speak of such cases as cases 
of chronic laminitis. Chronic laminitis and navicular disease have in fact been the only 
two terms I have heard applied to those diseases the symptoms of which are best 
expressed by the term “grogginess” and ‘I do not hesitate to confess that I have often 
repeated these words to owners of horses, with an air of assurance, wholly assumed. 
Like the man who had told one lie so often, he really believed it to be a truth; if at first 
I had felt any doubt about making diagnosis of cases, the exact morbid conditions 
of which I was not familiar with except from reading ; as I grew older in practice I had 
greater confidence to repeat either of the two names alluded to, because I had used them 
so many times. They satisfied me as they undoubtedly have satisfied some of you and 
particularly have they been convenient in instances where my treatment failed to relieve 
lameness, affording a shield behind which I have often sought shelter. 
Now I wish to be understood plainly as not disputing the frequent occurrence 
of navicular disease and chronic laminitis. That is not my object in the least, but I do 
protest against disposing of every case of lameness, even if it be of long standing in this 
way, and I wish to point out that quite as often, if not yet more so, other structures 
than those implied by these names, have and do suffer and become deformed and 
otherwise altered in structure, in a manner not generally known among veterinary prac- 
titioners, so far as my acquaintance extends, at least never referred to by them if ob¬ 
served and understood. 
In the pathology of the horse’s foot, I believe an omission has been made, not 
of trifling or hair-splitting distinction, but of grave importance, and it strikes me as being 
