The management and treatment of the horse in the stable, field, and ...

In the Stable, Field, and on the Road. 101
rule applicable to all classes of horses. Navicular
disease never occurs suddenly, is never caused by
bruises from stones as alleged, nor does it appear as
a primary affection. The coffin-bone having the
whole weight and exertion to sustain is always the
first to suffer, and it is when an alteration from the
normal state takes place in the coffin-bone and the
other component structures of the foot, that derange-
ment of functions and stress of pressure is imposed upon
the navicular bone. The coffin-bone undergoes more
change in physical formation and far more rapidly
than occurs in other bones, I may say of any animal,
for the reason that no bone is placed under so
many complications of influence and misapplied art
and exertion combined. The semiluna crest and the
normal asperities of the coffin-bone become absorbed
under the influence prevalent by which the attacking
processes for the tendon, the planta band and the frog,
are all weakened and their positions become altered.
The navicular-bone is more and more called upon to bear
pressure when its normal bulk would lack space, therefore
absorption of its substance takes place from within, until
at length the outer surface breaks down ; being always
on its lower and posterior surface where the ulcerated
apertures one or more are seen, whence lymph issuing
becomes attached to the tendon, by which effort of
nature the structure becomes in some measure fixed
together, and the otherwise unsuppor table friction is
diminished. For the treatment of this disease I repeat
the words of Professor Gamgee, in a lecture upon this
subject delivered by him at the New College of Veterinary