542 THE HORSE. 
compared with the remarks on sound action at page 124 e¢ seg., which it 
will serve to illustrate and explain. The foot itself is changed in form, 
and the toe and sole have more or less altered their relations, as explained 
already. Sometimes there is a large space or cavity between the outer 
surface and the inner, shown at 7, fig. 1, page 540. This hollow in the 
crust is more or less cellular, and the disease is called a “‘ seedy toe,” but for 
what reason I am at a loss to know. The sole, moreover, is always either 
flatter than natural or absolutely convex, and its horn is brittle and 
spongy, constituting what is termed the “pumiced foot.” The frog is 
generally large and spongy; and on placing a straight-edge across the 
shoe, from heel to heel, it is found to touch that part, or nearly so, indi- 
cating that the relations between it and the crust, as well as the sole, are 
altogether changed from a natural state. The lamine are no longer slings 
for the foot, but the whole pressure is taken by the parts lying beneath 
the pedal or coffin bone and the navicular bone. Such being the symptoms, 
the next thing is to consider what can be done? If the disease is of long 
standing, little hope can be given of a perfect recovery. The shape of the 
external parts may be partially restored, but the internal delicate structures 
no longer have the power of performing their offices ; and the elastic action 
of the horse suffering from the effects of laminitis can seldom be restored on 
hard ground. After proper treatment he may, and generally does, go on 
turf well; but either on hard ground or on plough (on the latter of 
which, though soft enough for the lamin, the sole has to bear con- 
siderable pressure) he is dreadfully sore and lame. This is shown after 
all inflammation has ceased, the foot being as cool as possible, and some- 
times exhibiting very slight evidences of previous mischief. In treating 
such cases, if there is no heat or other sign of inflammation, bleeding and 
similar lowering measures will be of no avail. They may be required soon 
enough, it is true, for a foundered foot is always in danger of inflammation 
when battered ; but until symptoms of this kind of mischief are exhibited 
it is better to avoid all depletory measures. At the same time, everything 
which will tend to keep off increased action should be avoided ; the horse 
should be fed on the least heating food which will serve the purpose for 
which he is intended, and his stable should be kept as cool as possible, 
Beans ought never to be allowed to the possessor of feet with the slightest 
suspicion of founder; and no more oats should be used than are necessary 
for the condition required. For horses at slow work, bran mashes and 
nitre, with small doses occasionally of physic, will serve to keep down the 
tendency to inflammation, and by their use, joined to cold applications after 
work (they are of no use at other times), and a cool stable, the horse may 
be enabled to do moderately fast work. If the frog is not very prominent, 
a leather sole, put on in the usual way, will save the jar, and in some 
measure supply the place uf the natural elastic tissue, destroyed in this 
disease. Usually, however, it only adds to the mischief by increasing tho 
pressure on the frog, and then the leather must be introduced between the 
foot and the shoe, but cut to the same shape as the latter, so as not at all 
to bear on the frog. Many horses with slight traces of laminitis can work 
for years with leather applied in this way, and it may be said to be the 
most useful mode of treating this disease when exhibited in a mild form. 
Sometimes by threwing a horse by for six months, taking off his shoes, 
and blistering his coronets two or three times, a great deal of good may 
be done, but he must be put to stand on tan or sawdust during the whole 
time, and never allowed to go on hard ground, even for half a mile at a 
walking pace. By this plan, and by very careful and gradual increase of 
