REPORT ON THE DISEASES OF FARM HORSES. 299 



foreign substances to appease his hunger. Millers' horses suffer 

 from calculi, partly from the sand and grit supplied in the 

 sweepings from the floors of the mill, and the long hours of fast 

 they often undergo. 



The symptoms of calculi are those of aggravated colic. Their 

 presence may be suspected, but not always ensured by the 

 symptoms presented, a post mortem examination being re- 

 quired to decide the state of the case. Even were it possible 

 always to decide accurately upon their presence, their removal 

 or solution would be an impossibility. When small, however, 

 sometimes they are voided per rectum, and I have seen them 

 taken from the large intestines varying from five to fifteen pounds 

 weight. Doubtless, during abnormal conditions of the stomach, 

 water impregnated with the earthy salts, minister much to the 

 formation of calculi. This I think certain, as I have proved 

 that animals taking the same food and water, having regular 

 work, suffer from nothing of the kind, and attain a very great 

 age, while others not experiencing such a systematic course soon 

 come to an untimely end. 



Laminitis. — One of the most common, and almost certain 

 terminations of acute impaction of the stomach, particularly 

 when that state has been produced from eating wheat, or barley, 

 is Laminitis, or inflammation of the laminae, or sensitive and 

 vascular structures within the hoof. 



The causes are to be looked for in the great sympathy which 

 exists between, and the similarity to the structures involved, 

 during that affection of the digestive organs. 



Symptoms. — Great lameness and halting ; the hind legs sup- 

 port the greatest weight of the body, and are brought consider- 

 ably in advance under it to relieve the fore. When caused to 

 move, the animal appears in one piece, the fore feet placed much 

 in advance, so as to secure the heels of the fore feet coming first 

 to the ground. The pulse is quickened full and strong, and the 

 arteries at the fetlocks throb violently. All other symptoms of 

 colic, pain, coma, &c, now give way, and the countenance is 

 expressive of pain and suffering. The breathing is laboured and 

 catching, bowels costive — but sometimes diarrhoea comes on and 

 relieves the feet, but superpurgation is to be dreaded. The urine 

 is deficient, highly coloured, and appetite gone. 



Treatment. — Administer during constipation, a doze of aloes 

 — five or six drams — and supplement their use by enemas and 

 tepid water, horned down the throat at intervals ; place the feet 

 in warm poultices, and keep the body warm. In one hour after 

 the aloes have been given, use ten drops of the tincture of 

 aconite, every two or three hours, until the pulse is reduced ; 

 and if weakness results, add spirits of ammonia, half an ounce, 

 to the aconite, to be given in cold water. 



