14 TREATISE ON DISEASES 



FOUNDER, (acute laminitis.) 



The terra founder signifies "ruin;" because a horse in a foun- 

 dered condition is, while the disease lasts, a ruined animal. The 

 disease is known to professional men as Z/aminitls, (inflnmraation of 

 the vascular parts of the foot.) During the progress of the disease, 

 ateopiit, or wasting of the muscles of the shoulders, occiirs, and 

 some persons are then disposed to call the malady " chest founder," 

 but the original seat of the malady was in the foot ; the wasting of 

 the muscles occurs in consequence of a want of physiological action 

 of the same. 



This disease, in its acute form, comes on very suddenly, and may 

 be occasioned by severe work, overfeeaing, or imbibing cold water 

 when the animal is in a state of perspiration ; it often has a metasta- 

 tic origin, that is, translation of disease from the lungs to the feet. 



Symptoms. — The most reliable symptoms are, a hard, strong and 

 wiry pulse, unnatural heat about the feet ; the animal appears to 

 suffer much pain, and is continually shifting his position and sending 

 his foot forwards ; sometimes, in view of obtaining relief, he lies 

 down, but is uneasy and breathes quick. The position which the 

 animal assumes, and the unnatural heat of the hoofs, point out clear- 

 ly the true character of the affection. ' 



Tkeatment op Acute Founder. — The feet should be kept con- 

 stantly moist with cold water, and four drachms of nitrate of potass 

 may be given, twice, daily, in a little water ; but should the animal 

 labor under a gorged state of the stomach, administer tonics and 

 stimulants in view of arousing the digestive function, so that the 

 food may be digested, and thus pass out of the stomach. 



A few doses of nitrate of potass will soon decrease the action of 

 the heart, and lessen the inflammatory action of the feet. 



CHRONIC FOUNDER. 



Chronic Founder is usually the result of organic foot disease, and 

 a permanent cure is almost a matter of impossibility; the only thing 

 we can do, is to mitigate the sufferings of the animal, by applying 

 lubricating and counter-irritating liniments to the feet and limbs, 

 and by having the feet properly prepared and shod, and allowing 

 the subject to spend his time in the pasture. (See article '■'■Sweeney y) 

 Some persons contend there are many kinds of founder, but the facts 

 are, founder is not the disease; the wiry shoulders and hollowness 

 in front of the chest, are mere effects arising from protracted dis- 

 ease and pain in the fore feet — chronic foot lameness. 



