THE AKMY HORSE. 95 



of carbolic acid, 1 to 20. Unless the pus has a good outlet, it 

 will burrow into the surrounding tissues and quittor or canker 

 may follow. Moreover, there is always danger of tetanus in 

 all cases of punctured wounds, especially in the feet. The 

 germ of this disease is present in nearly all soils and is very 

 liable to be carried into the wound upon the nail or other object. 

 After the wound has been opened up and washed out, the foot 

 should be placed in a hot flaxseed poultice, a fresh one being ap- 

 plied three or four times a day, and the parts washed out after 

 each poultice, as in the first instance. The treatment should be 

 continued until inflammation is reduced and the formation of 

 pus has ceased. The hole can then be plugged with oakum and 

 tar, the shoe reset, and the horse put to work. 



LAMINITIS OR FOUNDER. 



Laminitis is an inflammation of the sensitive laminae and may 

 involve the adjoining structures of the foot. There are three 

 forms of the disease — acute, subacute, and chronic. 



The exudation of blood is greatest at the toe. the foot being 

 more vascular at that point. The pain of laminitis is very 

 persistent and agonizing, because the swollen and sensitive 

 portions of the foot are surrounded by the hard and unyielding 

 hoof and the engorged blood vessels are not permitted free 

 exudation and swelling, the normal means by which congested 

 blood vessels are relieved. 



Causes. — The most common are concussion, overexertion, ex- 

 haustion, rapid changes of temperature, and the eating of vari- 

 ous improper foods, such as musty grain, hay, etc. 



St/mptoms. — In laminitis of both front feet the animal is 

 excessively lame, moves with great difficulty, especially when 

 starting, and appears as if the entire body were in a state of 

 cramp; he stands with the hind legs drawn under the belly 

 and the fore feet advanced, in order to relieve them of as nuicli 

 weight as possible. Occasionally he may be seen to sway back- 

 ward, elevating the toes and throwing the weight for a moment 

 upon the heels of the front feet, and then resuming the original 

 position. If compelled to move^ he raises the feet laboriously, 

 not because the muscles of locomotion are inflamed, as is some- 

 times supposed, but because, if all four feet are not on the 

 irround at the same time to bear the weight of the bodv, his 

 suffering is increased. He will often groan with pain and 

 sweat will break out over th(> l)ody. To diagnose a case quickly. 



