446 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



In most of cases of laminitis in the fore feet the animal persists 

 in standing until he is nearly recovered. In other cases he as per- 

 sistently lies, standing only when necessity seems to compel it, and 

 then for as short a time as j)ossible. If the recumbent position ia 

 once assumed, the relief experienced tempts the patient to seek it 

 again; so we often find him down a greater part of the time. But 

 this is not true of all cases ; sometimes he will make the experiment, 

 then cautiously guard against a repetition. Even in cases of enforced 

 recumbency, he ofttimes takes advantage of the first opportunity 

 and gets upon his feet, doggedly remaining there until again laid 

 upon his side. How to explain this diversity of action I do not 

 know; theoretically the recumbent position is the only appropriate 

 one, except when complications exist, and the one which should give 

 the most comfort, yet it is rejected by very many patients and, no 

 doubt, for some good reason. It has been suggested as an explana- 

 tion that when the animal gets upon his feet after lying for a time 

 the suffering is so greatly augmented that the memory of this ex- 

 perience deters him from an attempted repetition. If this were 

 true, the horse with the first attack must necessarily make the ex- 

 periment before knowing the after effects of lying down, yet many 

 remain standing without even an attempt at gaining this experi- 

 mental knowledge. 



The most-favored position of the animal when down is- on the 

 broadside, with the feet and legs extended. While in this position 

 the general symptoms greatly subside; the respirations and pulse 

 become almost normal; the temperature falls and the perspiration 

 dries. It is with difficulty that he is made to rise. "V^Hien he at- 

 tempts it he gets up rapidly and " all of a heap," as it were, shifting, 

 quickly from one to the other foot until they become accustomed to 

 the weight thrown upon them. Occasionally a patient will get up 

 like a cow, rising upon the hind feet first. Although enforced ex- 

 ercise relieves the soreness to some extent, it is but temporary, for 

 after a few minutes' rest it returns Avith all its former severity. 



Both hind feet. — When only both hind feet are affected, they are, 

 while standing, maintained in the same position as when only the fore 

 ones are the subjects of the disease, but with an entirely different 

 object in view. Instead of being there to receive weight, they are so 

 advanced that the heels only may receive what little weight is neces- 

 sarily imposed on them ; the fore feet at the same time are placed 

 well back beneath the body, where they become the main supports; 

 the animal standing, as Williams describes it, " all of a heap." 



Progression is even more difficult now than when the disease is 

 confined to the anterior extremities. The fore feet are dubiously 

 advanced a short distance and the hind ones brought forward with a 

 sort of kangaroo hop that results in an apparent loss of equilibrium 



