47 
Respecting the development of navicular disease from causes connected with pre¬ 
viously existing disease in other structures of the foot, I believe it may and very likely 
does come from overwork in the effort to bring the posterior part of the foot to the 
ground first, causing greater stress to be applied 10 the flexors and consequently to the 
navicular bone and its synovial membrane which becoming inflamed produces the 
effects so commonly and well known. 
By way of illustration I will relate a supposable case of the development of chronic 
foot lameness, arising from one out of a great many constantly occurring causes, en¬ 
deavoring to show how it was created and matured. 
An animal is injured by unequal pressure of the shoe, or by the nails having been 
driven too closely to the sensitive foot—and is slightly lame. 
Of course the foot is examined and if possible the cause of the trouble determined. 
Well what is usually done ? Instead of leaving the shoe off and relieving the painful 
condition entirely as would be not only proper, but which I should consider imperative; 
the shoe is immediately replaced and “put on easy” as they say, perhaps with some tar 
or other dressing under a leather sole and the horse is put to work again. What are the 
consequences? The horse uses the foot as little as possible when at work, and rests it 
all he can when standing ; it is to a great extent thrown out of use. The circulation is 
modified ; the heat of the foot affects the elasticity of the hoof itself and this rigid con¬ 
dition of the hoof prevents still further its free use. The chances are, even from so 
slight a cause, particularly in a foot wherein disease already exists in a latent form, that 
we shall have a diseased and painful condition of the whole organ very difficult to re¬ 
lieve, if not extending beyond that condition amenable to treatment. 
This simple explanation will, in a measure, answer for the whole, so far as causes 
are concerned, and with a proper understanding of the philosophy of nutrition and 
wear and tear will enable anyone to see how from trifling injuries serious consequences 
result, and the phenomena of contracted hoofs may be explained without thought of 
or reference to inquiries if the foot expands laterally, the sole springs up and down, the 
the laminae stretch, frog pressure theories, concussion upon hard roads, or anything of 
the kind. 
I believe I have read about everything printed in the English language relating to 
lameness in the feet of horses, and I must honestly confess that for a long time I had 
no thoroughly clear, well defined idea of the pathology of those diseases which produce 
it, or of their causes, prevention and cure. I doubt if there is any subject belonging to 
medical or any other science, about which so many worthless and contrary opinions 
have been expressed. No man I think can study it as I have, without becoming 
thoroughly confused and at times discouraged, and when he comes to apply the treat¬ 
ment recommended to accomplish cures in the manner, and for the purposes prescribed 
he will be even more confounded and disgusted, as I have been quite often. 
I have now learned to divest the subject of much of the complication which has 
rendered it inexplicable and prefer to understand some few things that are simple to 
having an indistinct and confused idea of unscientific and nonsensical theories. That 
kind of knowledge which is surrounded by mystery has a peculiar charm for some 
people, and they are heartily welcome to it so far as I am concerned. 
I intended to allude to some of the results of treatment of cases of chronic lame¬ 
ness, but I find that my paper has already exceeded the limit marked out for it, and 
shall defer that until some other time. A large field I am confident lies open for 
investigation of the phenomena of wasted and imperfectly developed bones and muscles 
of limbs accompanying diseased conditions of the feet. 
