136 SCIENTIFIC HORSESHOEING. 



lower iiargiu of the wall all around, from toe to heel as high as- 

 the nr..i hole-. If there is any soreness in this region the horse 

 will fl.nch or slirink from the pressure, but if nothing is mani- 

 fested in this way continue the same process up around the cor- 

 onet by gripping it between the base of the hoof in the jaws of 

 the tester, same as before. Then if the cause of the trouble or 

 its seat still remains in doubt, pursue the investigation to other 

 regions of the limb or trunk as recommended for "modification 

 of action," page 106. 



Laminitis, or Founder. — Under this double head is ex- 

 pressed one of the most insidious of all foot ailments. The 

 former gives " a local habitation and a name " to the disease as 

 applied to the laminar tissues, while the other recognizes it more 

 in effect as indicating the " sinking " or falling of the foot 

 structures or the failure of their functional activity as implied 

 by the word " foundered," by which name the malady is most 

 familiarly known. Its particular character is an inflammation 

 of the sensitive laminae, and its general symptoms are so well 

 manifested by the impairment of the bodily vigor and power of 

 locomotion, or weakness and stiffness in the limbs, accompanied 

 with signs of acute pain which the suffering animal attempts to 

 relieve by disposing his weight on the sound members, that its 

 presence is not easily mistaken. It may be confined to a limited 

 region, or it may involve the entire tissue of one or all four 

 feet, though the front feet are the ones most affected. Various 

 causes are assigned as productive of this disease, such as drink- 

 ing too freely of cold water while overheated, rapid changes 

 from heat to cold by exposure to cold wind, rain, or washing the 

 feet and legs in cold water when the animal has been violently 

 exercised or is exhausted by work, over-exertion and at times 

 over-feeding of certain grain, especially corn ; bad shoeing is 

 also — here as elsewhere — a prevalent factor by paring out and 

 weakening the foot, or by applying high heeled shoes, etc. 



