ACUTE FOUNDER. 149 



entire surface of this callous substance issues a discharge 

 of a peculiar fetid matter. In this complaint tlie horse 

 suffers great pain and uneasiness, and quickly loses flesh. 

 It would not be safe for any one but a veterinary surgeon 

 to attempt a cure for this loatlisome complaint. 



CHAPTER VII. 



DISEASES OF THE FOOT. 



The diseases of the feet in horses are more numerous, and 

 of a more complex nature than the inexperienced can have 

 any idea of. The structure of the foot is very complicated, 

 and having to sustain the weight of so heavy an animal, 

 besides being exposed to the chances of many injuries, a 

 knowledge of these is of paramount importance, both as 

 regards the safety of the proprietor and the intrinsic value 

 of the animal. When, therefore, we arrive at the anato- 

 mical description of the horse, we shall dwell at some lengtli 

 upon the structure of the foot as well as of the pastern. 



ACUTE FOUNDEU. 



Inflammation of the foot has been denominated " acute 

 founder.'' It is the cause of many other diseases, and is 

 more or less connected with them all. 



Inflammation of the sensible lamellae, or fleshy plates on 

 the front and sides of the coffin-bone, is the cause of acute 

 founder. These lamellae are thickly intersected with blood- 

 vessels, like every other vascular part ; and, consequently, 

 from their exposure to violent and long-continued action, 

 they are elongated and strained, more especially when the 



