88 The Management and Treatment of the Horse, 



and Mr Greaves, of Manchester. Laminitis is of two 

 specific kinds, and may be designated natural and 

 unnatural. — First, natural laminitis is mostly found in 

 horses of a low breed, heavy and corpulent in body, such 

 as draught horses of various kinds, and this arises, doubt- 

 less, from constitutional causes. Unnatural laminitis or 

 artificial phase of this terrible disease is most frequently 

 met with in light-bred animals, and no doubt is the 

 result of their endeavour to resist the violence occasioned 

 by over-exertion on hard roads, and by the exhaustion 

 produced by rapid driving and other artificial de- 

 leterious causes, such as being called upon to perform 

 long journeys when the stomach is overloaded with 

 food. Always remember " Full feed, then rest," — eating 

 large quantities of wheat or feeding upon new oats. 

 There is one cause, however, so prominent and influen- 

 tial in its character, that ought never to be lost sight 

 of, and that is work or what may be construed into 

 violence done to the feet ; for instance, a horse with 

 high stamping action going any great distance or for 

 any length of time upon the hard macadamised 

 road, or hard pavement of any kind whatever, will be 

 a very likely subject for an attack of this disease, 

 particularly if he has been idle, at rest, or unseasoned, 

 and is suddenly and at once put to do severe work. 

 It is here that the groom requires to use great 

 caution ; when a new horse is brought under his care 

 he does not know if the animal has been idle and been 

 u made up " for sale, and if suddenly put to hard 

 work the chances are he will fall to pieces. It is a 

 safe plan to always put a new purchase through a 



