Reported Case.—­’The animal was a Hungarian, a troop-horse in the 3rd Hussars (G. 15).  On November 22, 1881, on the march from Norwich to Aldershot, the horse suddenly made a violent stumble, very nearly coming on to his knees.  The rider declared that he put his foot on a stone.  The accident caused great lameness in the near fore-leg, and the horse had to be led the remainder of that day’s march.  On the following day he was also led; but, after going some sixteen or eighteen miles, he was so lame that he was left at the nearest billet (in Edmonton).  He was here attended by Mr. Stanley, M.R.C.V.S., of Edmonton, who pronounced it a case of navicular disease.  I first saw the animal on December 1, 1881, and quite agreed with Mr. Stanley that it was a case of foot lameness, though, from the horse’s former history, I could not think it a case of ordinary navicular disease.  I diagnosed it a case of fracture, without displacement, either of the os coronae or the navicular bone, but was more inclined to the former than the latter.  This was after a full hour’s examination.  I failed to find any heat in, or any flinching by manipulation of, any part of the limb; but, in walking, the horse was excessively lame, going on the toe, and, indeed, trying if possible to keep the foot entirely off the ground.

’On December 6 the horse was sent on to Aldershot by rail.  He was then walking better, though still very lame.  My only treatment for a short time was to apply cold water constantly to the coronet and foot.  For two hours daily this was done by a hose, the remainder of the time by a cold swab.  On December 14 I applied a strong blister over the coronet, reaching up to the fetlock.  This was washed off about the end of December.  The horse was then not nearly so lame.  I then resumed the cold-water treatment, and he got gradually better, and was sent to light duty on February 18, 1882.  He, however, only attended one field-day, and was taken into the Horse Infirmary again on March 8, very lame.  Again, there was an entire absence of heat or pain on pressure, but the same action, viz., going on the toe.  I forgot to remark that he always pointed the toe of the affected leg when standing in the stable, and this symptom continued.  I put him under the cold-water treatment for a short time, and about the middle of March again applied a strong blister over the coronet up to the fetlock.  This was washed off about the end of the month, and was succeeded by the cold water again.  Towards the end of April there was no improvement at all, and I applied for permission to destroy the horse.  This was carried out on April 27, at the recommendation of Mr. Gudgin, I.V.S., Aldershot, and a Board of veterinary surgeons.

’On making the post-mortem examination I first thought the bone was only partly fractured or cracked, but on manipulating it, after its being in hot water a short time, I saw the fracture was complete.’[A]