CHAPTER XLV 

 DISEASES OF THE FEET 



^TpHE foot of the horse is a most delicate and com- 

 -*■ plicated contrivance, and every horse-shoer should 

 thoroughly understand Its construction. There are two 

 facts about the foot which should especially be borne In 

 mind, first that the main foot-bone Is a continuation of 

 the leg bone, so that If the foot Is out of shape or bal- 

 ance the leg will be so also; secondly, that the hoof Is 

 simply a rigid, horny box enclosing the sensitive parts 

 of the foot, so that a contracted hoof has the same 

 effect as a tight shoe upon the human foot — or rather 

 a worse effect, for the horny box has no elasticity what- 

 ever, and, moreover, the unfortunate horse can never 

 remove it. 



LAMINITIS OR FOUNDER 



Lamlnltis, commonly called founder, may be chronic 

 or acute, and acute founder will surely become chronic 

 unless measures are very promptly taken to cure it. 



Founder is inflammation of the foot, and chiefly of 

 the small laminae or leaves, five hundred or more in 

 number, which unite the walls of the hoof to the parts 

 within. These laminae surround the front and sides of 

 the pedal bone, the largest being in front, and it is 

 these which are most affected by the inflammation. 

 This is a most painful disease causing the horse Intense 



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