DISEASES OF THE HORSE. . 813 



warm water. Wash two or three times a day with the following mixture: chloride of zinc, 

 1 dr. ; carbolic acid, 3 dr. ; water, one pint. Sometimes a thorough application of hot caustic 

 solutions is essential before using the wash, in order to make the flesh heal. 



Founder (Laminitis). This is an inflammation of the laminae of the horse s foot, and 

 may be caused by overdriving, exposure to cold when perspiring, thus suddenly checking 

 perspiration, overfeeding, or giving food and cold water in large quantities too soon after 

 excessive work; long continued driving on hard pavements or frozen ground, improper shoe 

 ing, driving through a deep stream or river when warm, etc. 



This disease has two forms the acute and chronic; the former may be cured, if properly 

 treated, and taken in season, but the latter is considered incurable, although it may be con 

 siderably relieved. This disease resembles rheumatism in many respects, and, like that, the 

 acute form is attended with fever and pain. The fore-feet are generally affected, and some 

 times the muscles of the chest. 



A foundered horse will be known by his peculiarly mincing gait, as though it hurt him 

 to put his fore-feet upon the ground ; by a hot, contracted hoof ; by resting his fore-foot upon 

 the toe, and also by keeping his fore-feet stretched out as far as possible, so that the weight 

 of the body will rest on the heel, instead of the toe. 



Treatment of Acute Founder. Perfect rest is essential. Give the horse a large stall, and 

 a good deep bedding of clean straw. He may thus be induced to lie down, which will relieve 

 the pain of the feet by removing the weight from them, and aid in producing a cure. Where 

 the inflammation is very great, it may be necessary to sling the horse up so that his hoofs 

 will not touch the floor. 



The shoes should also be removed. Some veterinarians apply warm poultices to the 

 hoofs, but we prefer cloths wet in ice water, applied frequently, to be continued for several 

 hours, and occasionally for two or three days, if necessary. This reduces the inflammation 

 and pain. From fifteen to twenty drops of tincture of aconite should be given in about half 

 a pint of cold water every four hours, until six doses have been given. Give mashes, 

 grass, carrots, or potatoes, with oats, for a few days; also all the water, and as often as the 

 animal will drink. When recovering, and well enough to exercise some, turn the horse out 

 to grass to remain until the cure is completed. 



It is also a good plan to let the horse stand in about six inches of sawdust, wet a little 

 once or twice a day, for two or three weeks, when recovering from acute founder, or in 

 chronic founder. This gives a soft floor to stand upon, and keeps the hoofs moist and 

 soft. 



Treatment for Chronic Founder. Nothing can be done for this form of the disease, except 

 to relieve it somewhat. The entire hoof should be frequently wet; also kept well oiled with 

 castor or linseed oil. The oiling should extend up to the skin, and cover the sole. A soft 

 floor, such as earth, sawdust, or tan-bark, occasionally wet, should be provided in the stable. 

 A protection of sole-leather, or similar substance, sometimes proves highly beneficial by 

 being put on over the sole before setting the shoe, allowing it to come to the edge of the wall 

 of the hoof, so that the nails may be driven through it in fastening on the shoe. A filling of 

 cotton, saturated with tar and oil, should be put in between the leather and the sole. 



Fracture. In surgery, fractures are distinguished, according to their nature, by the 

 terms simple, compound, complicated, comminuted, etc. A simple fracture is when the bone 

 only is divided, and there is no wound to admit air to the seat of the fracture. By compound 

 fracture is meant that there is such a wound. A complicated fracture is one in which some 

 other serious injury is inflicted near it, such as the rupture of the osseous tissues, important 

 nerve trunk, or blood vessel, by the broken bone, or when the fracture extends into the cav 

 ity of the joint. 



