LAMINITIS. 407 



a level fall of the foot. This state of disease ought to be well 

 studied, and compared with the remarks on sound action at page 

 82 et seq., 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. 19, page 405. 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, indicating that the relations between it and the crust, 

 as well as the sole, are altogether changed from a natural state. 

 The laminae are no longer slings for the foot, but the whole pres- 

 sure 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 stand- 

 ing, little hope can be given of a perfect recovery. The shape of 

 the external parts may be partially restored, but the internal deli- 

 cate 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 laminae, the sole has to bear considerable pressure) 

 he is dreadfully sore and lame. This is shown after all inflamma- 

 tion has ceased, the foot being as cool as possible, and sometimes 

 exhibiting very slight evidences of previous mischief. 



In treating such cases, if there is no heat or other sign of in- 

 flammation, bleeding and similar lowering measures will be of no 

 avail. They may be required soon enough, it is true, for a foun- 

 dered 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, every- 

 thing 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), 



