28 NAVIN OX THE HORSE. 



FOUNDER. 



Several different names have been given to this disease. It 

 has been called acute inflammation of the feet ; acute rheuma- 

 tism ; and some cases have been named, from the supposed 

 cause of the attack, water-founder, feed-founder, etc. It is also 

 treated of by writers under the names of chest-founder, body- 

 founder, and feet-founder; the name being used to designate the 

 location of the disease. 



The word founder, in seamen's language, means " filling with 

 water; " and it is more than likely it was used in the first place 

 as a name for this disease, from its supposed origin in drinking 

 too much water. I attach no particular meaning to the word. 

 I use it simply as a name, which has been in long and general 

 use. 



I am certainly of the opinion that founder is rheumatism. 

 But this name is much like the other. It is derived from two 

 Greek words, one meaning "a watery humor," and the other 

 meaning "to flow." So the same objection that may be urged 

 against founder as a name, may also be brought against rheu- 

 matism. 



Symjptoms. — Founder is generally very sudden in its attack, 

 in most cases the disease being fully develoj^ed before it is 

 noticed by the owner or groom. In many cases the horse will 

 be found, the next morning after exposure, in a great "rack of 

 pain;" and a train of symptoms will be observed, not always 

 the same, but usually sufficiently similar to point out the nature 

 of the malady. But it must not be understood that founder is 

 always easily determined. It has been overlooked even by the 

 veterinary surgeon. 



That form of the disease which attacks the feet, as its prin- 

 cij^al seat, or point of first attack, has been called feet-founder. 



The first symptoms likely to attract attention will be an un- 

 easiness in standing on the fore-feet, the horse frequently chang- 

 ing the weight from one to the other, but avoiding any thing 

 like violent motion or pawing. As the inflammation, which is 



