88 THE ARMY HORSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE. 



LAMINITIS OR FOUNDER. 



Laminitis is an infiammation of the sensitive laminsB (generally of 

 the front feet) and may involve the adjoining structures. There are 

 three forms of the disease— acute, subacute, and chronic. 



The exudation of blood is greatest at the toe, the foot being more 

 vascular at that point. The pain of acute laminitis is very persistent 

 and agonizing, because the swollen and sensitive portions of the 

 foot are surrounded by the hard and unyielding hoof and the en- 

 gorged blood vessels are not permitted free exudation and swelling, 

 the normal means by which congested blood vessels are reheved. 



Causes. — The most common are concussion, overexertion, ex- 

 haustion, rapid changes of temperature, the eating of various improper 

 foods, such as musty grain, hay, etc., and the drinking of cold water 

 when the animal is overheated. 



Symptoms. — In acute laminitis of both front feet the animal is 

 excessively lame, moves with great difficulty, especially when starting, 

 and appears as if the entire body were in a state of cramp ; he stands 

 with the hind legs drawn under the belly and the fore feet advanced , 

 in order to relieve them of as much weight as possible. Occasionally 

 he may be seen to sway backward, elevating the toes and throwing 

 the weight for a moment upon the heels of the front feet, and then 

 resuming the original position. If compelled to move, he raises 

 the feet laboriously, not -because the muscles of locomotion are 

 inflamed, as is sometimes supposed, but because, if all four feet' are 

 not on the ground at the same time to bear the weight of the body, 

 his suffering is increased. He will often groan with pain and sweat 

 will break out over the body. To diagnose a case quickly, the best 

 method is to push the horse backward, when, if affected, he will 

 elevate the toes and throw his weight upon the heels. 



The pulse in acute laminitis is full, strong, and rapid and will 

 maintain these characteristics even after general debility has become 

 manifest. In some instances the animal will lie down upon his side, 

 with the legs stretched out, for hours at a time, evidently feeling 

 great relief in this position; in other cases, particularly during the 

 early period of the disease, he will stand persistently. The t-em- 

 perature ranges from 102° to 104°. 



Treatment. — Remove the shoes from the affected feet; stand the 

 horse in hot water for several hours each day, or, what is equally 

 good and perhaps safer, apply hot flaxseed poultices, changing 

 them every hour as they become cold. After two or three days 

 of this treatment change to cold water, which can be applied either 

 in the form of a footbath or by standing the animal in a running 

 stream for five' or six hours at a time. As ^oon as the pain has 

 diminished, moderate exercise is beneficial; this may be gradually 



