332 CHAPTER 43. 



662. Symptoms of various diseases in the Feet. 



Excluding from present consideration temporary causes, such as prick- 

 ing, tight nailing, bruises to the sole, etc., most of the various diseases 

 which affect the feet present certain special and peculiar symptoms. We 

 shall very briefly note the chief peculiarities. 



663. Symptoms of Laminitis. 



Acute Laminitis, or Fever in the Feet, is at once indicated by great 

 heat in the part, by throbbing of the plantar arteries, and by almost 

 absolute inability of the horse to move. The animal stands with his hind 

 legs drawn up under the body, in order to take the weight off the fore 

 feet. If he is compelled to move, he plants the heels of these feet on. 

 the ground and brings the hind legs well forward. Great constitutional 

 disturbance is also present. 



Chronic Laminitis the disease resulting from the acute attack if 

 severe, is indicated by a wide spreading-out of the crust, and by loss of 

 the concave form of the sole, by wavy circular ridges in the hoof, by an 

 abnormal degree of heat, by a concavity in the front of the Avail, by a 

 thickened and elevated condition of the toe and also by the animal 

 treading as much as possible on his heels in order to avoid giving pain 

 to the sensitive laminae, which are the structures principally affected by 

 the disease. 



Subacute Laminitis, common in weak, brittle feet, presents the same 

 symptoms, but in a modified degree. The examiner should carefully 

 watch for any tendency on the part of the horse to plant the heels on the 

 ground before the other parts of the feet. 



Wavy circular ridges in the horn are often found in the feet of young 

 horses at grass. In these cases, though they should be viewed with some 

 suspicion, they frequently arise not from disease, but from accelerated or 

 diminished growth of the horn at various times according to the moisture 

 or otherwise of the pastures on which the animals are kept, and on other 

 temporary causes. " Grass rings," as they are termed, differ from lamin- 

 itis rings by being more regular in character. The latter spread more at 

 the heels, and besides this are associated with other characteristic 

 symptoms. 



664. Symptoms of Navicular disease. 



The symptoms of Navicular disease in confirmed cases are very pecu- 

 liar. In the stable it is indicated by the horse standing either with his 

 legs straight out and bearing his weight on his toe (the heel being raised 

 off the ground) ; or by the fetlock being flexed, whilst the toe is drawn 

 back and stuck into the ground. In action it is manifested by the animal 

 treading chiefly on his toes, and consequently digging them in the ground. 

 When the horse has been shod a week, the extra wear thus occasioned 

 will have made itself perceptible on the toe of the shoe. The object of 

 the horse in all these peculiar positions and motions is to avoid putting 

 weight on the back part of the foot, which is the seat of the disease. 



