FOUNDER. 31 



lies down, rolls, jumj^s up, and lies down again, etc. ; and in 

 which he points with his muzzle to the side, while in the most 

 common variety of founder he points to the feet. 



Causes, etc. — The recognized causes of founder are quite as 

 various as the symptoms of the disease. They are somewhat 

 similar to those that produce other inflammatory diseases. A 

 sudden check of the perspiration through the skin, by exposing 

 the animal to cold or wind when too warm, may bring on an 

 attack of founder. It is often brought on by a particular part 

 of the body being chilled. This is the case when he takes it 

 from drinking cold water when he is hot. This chills the blood 

 in the parts the water passes over or comes in contact with, and, 

 by its mixing with the rest of the blood of the system, the temper- 

 ature or heat of the body is suddenly reduced, and perspiration 

 through the skin is checked just as quick as if the cold had been 

 applied to the skin. The skin is constantly throwing off fine 

 particles of poisonous, worn-out matter, and poisonous gases, 

 which, if kept back, must produce disease. When the skin is 

 chilled, as explained above, its pores contract or draw up, and 

 these poisonous things can not pass out through the skin, and 

 then, if they do not find some other way to get out, they produce 

 inflammation of the lungs, feet, or other parts. 



Standing in cold water when the horse is hot is very likely 

 to produce founder. Washing the legs with cold water, feeding 

 the horse more than he can digest when tired and hungry, ex- 

 posing the horse to rain, wind, or snow, and particularly travel- 

 ing through snow, are fruitful causes. An over-feed at any time 

 is often the cause of founder. A sudden change from cold to 

 hot will likewise produce founder, as when the horse has been 

 driven through the cold and put in a warm stable, and straw 

 piled up to his knees. This invites such a rapid flow of blood 

 to the feet as to cause inflammation. 



Some writers tell us that founder is sometimes produced by 

 other diseases leaving the part aflected and going to the feet. 

 Inflammation of the eyes, lungs, bowels, etc., have been known 



