DISEASES OF HORSES 287 



dry, and are relieved as much as possible from bearing weight. 

 Rapping them with a hammer, or compelling the animal to stand 

 upon one affected member, causes intense pain. The artery at the 

 fetlock throbs beneath the finger. 



Specific Symptoms. Liability to affection varies in the differ- 

 ent feet according to the exciting cause. Any one or more of the 

 feet may become the subject of this disease, although it appears more 

 often in the fore feet than in the hind ones. This is due to the dif- 

 ference of function, i. e., that the fore feet are the bases of the col- 

 umns of support, receiving nearly all of the body weight during 

 progression and consequently most of the concussion, while the 

 hind feet become simply the fulcra of the levers of progression, and 

 are almost exempt from concussion. 



One Foot. Injuries and excessive functional performance are 

 the causes of the disease in only one foot. The general symptoms, as 

 a rule, are not severe, there being often no loss of appetite and no 

 unusual thirst, while the pulse, temperature, and respiration remain 

 about normal. The weight of the body is early thrown upon the 

 opposite foot, and the affected one is extended, repeatedly raised 

 from the floor, and then carefully replaced. When made to move 

 forward the lame foot is either carried in the air while progression 

 is accomplished by hopping with the healthy one, or else the heel of 

 the first is placed upon the ground and receives little weight while 

 the sound limb is quickly advanced. Progression in a straight line 

 is more easy than turning toward the lame side. 



Both Fore Feet. When both fore feet are affected the symp- 

 toms are well marked. The lameness is excessive and the animal al- 

 most immovable. When standing the head hangs low down, or rests 

 upon the manger as a means of support and to relieve the feet; the 

 fore feet are well extended so that the weight is thrown upon the 

 heels, where the tissues are least sensitive, least inflamed, and most 

 capable of relief by free effusion. The hind feet are brought for- 

 ward beneath the body to receive as much weight as possible, thereby 

 relieving the diseased ones. If progression is attempted, which rarely 

 happens voluntarily during the first three or four days, it is accom- 

 plished with very great pain and lameness at the starting, which 

 usually subsides to an extent after a few minutes' exercise. 



In a majority of cases of laminitis in the fore feet the animal 

 persists in standing until he is nearly recovered. In other cases he 

 as persistently lies, standing only when necessity seems to compel it, 

 and then for as short a time as possible. If the recumbent position 

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

 again ; and 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 experi- 

 ment, then cautiously guard against a repetition. Even in cases of 

 enforced recumbency, he ofttimes takes advantage of the first op- 

 portunity and gets upon his feet, doggedly remaining there until 

 again laid upon his side. 



Both Hind Feet. When only both hind feet are affected, they 

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



