278 Founder and Diseases in Morses' Feet. [June, 



of this structure, and the extraordinary tension it is subjected to in long 

 continued exertion, it is very apt to undergo inflammatory attacks. The 

 smallness of foot of so large an animal renders any greater influx of 

 blood or inflammatory tendency very dangerous in so confined a cavity, 

 and this is much increased by hard and unyielding states of the horn, 

 and the binding of its iron defense, or shoe. Laminitis, or fever of the 

 feet, is a violent inflammatory attack of the laminse; usually of the 

 fore feet, but sometimes all around. This usually runs an acute course 

 of from twenty to forty hours, terminating either by resolution, (cure,) 

 suppuration, or death. Suppuration is a very common result. When 

 this ensues, the union between the sensitive laminae and those of the 

 inner surface of the hoof is dissolved, or relaxes, and the coflSn-bone 

 being no longer fully suspended, sinks down on the horny sole. If the 

 violence of the fever now abates, and the animal should survive, lymph 

 is effused between the laminated plaits, and they are retained together, 

 but no longer elastic. The coflSn-bone remains resting on the horny 

 sole, and the hoof presents all the appearances described above. This 

 is what has been termed Founder. 



The causes of laminitis are most usually long continued exertion, and 

 attended by excessive excitement of the heart and arterial system. 

 As already observed, in reference to afiections of the stomach, it is not 

 unfrcquently the result of revulsion or translation of inflammatory action 

 from other organs; or what, in medical language, is technically called 

 " metastasis." The writer has seen it supervene from inflammations of 

 the bowels or lungs, and on occasions from influenzal fever, when this 

 has run high and threatened to center in the lungs. It is a disease 

 which requires instant and the most active treatment. 



The California "Wheat Crop. — The late arrivals from California 

 make it almost certain that the wheat crop in that State will be abun- 

 dant beyond precedent. The late rains are producing the best efi'ect, and 

 fields all over the State are in the most flourishing condition. This will 

 have the effect to entirely stop the shipment of flour from New York to 

 that country. As the war is over in Europe, and the people are left to 

 the undisturbed cultivation of their own fields, it is almost certain that 

 prices will rule much lower in Great Britain and on the continent, 

 than they have for the last two years. With these facts before us, and 

 the additional one that the wheat crop never looked more promising in all 

 parts of the United States, it is but reasonable to presume that prices of all 

 kinds of breadstuflfs will be low in the United States for the ensuing year. 



