DISEASES OF DOMESTIC ANIM.^XS. 131 



sound limb carefully. If it occurs in both hind feet only, it is likely 

 it was brought on by driving on hard roads without shoes. If it comes 

 from the stomach, it is likely to attack the fore feet, or both fore and 

 hind feet. In a majority of cases produced in the ordinary way, when 

 it affects only the sensitive structures, the sensitive laminse, sole and 

 frog, it terminates in resolution, but when the exciting cause has been 

 of a severe character, great changes take place. The inflammation 

 then involves the other structures, causes separation of the sensitive 

 and insensitive laminae, and descent of the coffin bone, making the 

 sole convex and giving rise to what is known as pumiced foot, or the 

 bone may descend right through the sole, and the hoof will grow out 

 of all shape. A mild attack may produce all this if the exciting cause 

 is kept up, or when you are not able to relieve the irritation. 



Treatment. — Although serious, it is, in many cases, satisfactorily 

 treated. The constitutional symptoms are generally best relieved by 

 sedatives and purgatives ; but it is sometimes the result of super- 

 purgation ; then do not give a purgative. In just an ordinary case, 

 remove the shoes, and have the wall rasped down nicely, but not to 

 too great an extent, and then envelop the foot in poultices, hot being 

 perhaps preferable ; and give a dose of purgative medicine ; and I 

 give larger doses than are recommended in our works, and as soon as 

 it begins to act the symptoms become less violent ; but you must regu- 

 late your dose according to the size, age and condition of the animal. 

 Give injections of soap and water ; also give a good sedative — Flem- 

 ming's tincture of aconite, fifteen or twenty drops every two or three 

 hours, until relief is obtained. In some cases you may take some 

 blood, and it is a good thing in many cases. As to whether it should 

 be local or constitutional, there is a difference of opinion. I think it 

 is just as good to take it from the jugular vein as any. Some bleed 

 from the toe, but it is liable to cause irritation. When you do bleed 

 do not give so much purgative medicine ; give nitrate of potash freely. 

 Some say, and I believe, it can be checked by the free use of nitrate of 

 potash. Give two or three drachms two or three times a day ; give it 

 in water, and allow plenty of water — not much at a time, but give it 

 often until the physic begins to act, and then be careful with it for 

 some time, and when the animal begins to get better, do not push 

 medicine too far. When there are no signs of relief, you may expect 

 that exudation is taking place, and it may be advisable to make an 

 opening at the toe and let it out, and if this is done in due time it may 

 prevent descent of the coffin bone ; but if in about three days the ani- 

 mal is relieved, and moves tolerably well, a little exercise is beneficial, 

 and perhaps it is well to again apply the shoe. If the animal retains 

 the standing posture, it is good practice to lay him down ; some recom- 

 mend sHngs, but I think it is better to lay him down, which is easily 

 done. Tie up one fore leg, and attempt to move him, and you can 

 easily lay him over, and in most cases he will lie quite well if the symp- 

 toms are relieved in three or four days. The former shoes will do to 

 be put on, but those without heels or toes are best. There is a kind 

 noticed in Williams' works ; it is a bar-shoe, very thin at the heel, but 

 I do not recommend it in the early stage of the disease. A horse that 

 has suffered from this should be carefully used for some time ; if he is 

 put to work too soon it is apt to assume a sub-acute form. If you 

 have treated an acute case, which has done well, but there remains 

 some heat, a good cantharides blister around the corona is of benefit. 



Laminitis, Sub-acute and Chronic. —This may occur in any horse, 

 but it is most common in aged horses. The symptoms are not so 



