LAMINITIS. 303 



ant in character, spring up. If not too luxuriant, their 

 presence cannot be considered as a bad sign ; if they are 

 two luxuriant, caustics may be used to reduce them. The 

 diet of the animal, if he will eat anything, should be of a 

 light, easily digestible, and nourishing character. Open- 

 joint, when occurring in connection with the stifle, is 

 generally fatal. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



Diseases of the Feet. 



LAMINITIS. 



La:mixitis signifies inflammation of the sensitive laminae, 

 and is not a very good term, inasmuch as it is not suf- 

 ficiently comprehensive, as not only the sensitive laminae 

 are affected, but the whole of the sensitive structures 

 of the foot are more or less involved in the inflammatory 

 process. It occurs in the acute, subacute, and chronic 

 forms. The acute form is a very painful affection, as 

 exudation takes place after inflammation, and, being un- 

 able to escape, presses upon the sensitive structures of the 

 foot, and causes pain of a most agonizing character. La- 

 minitis is also known as fever in the feet, founder, etc. 

 Frequently in consequence of the intensity of the disease, 

 improper or too long delayed treatment, etc., separation of 

 the sensitive from the insensitive laminae takes place, and 

 the OS pedis descends, constituting a condition known as 

 'pumiced foot.' In resolution, the exudate is removed by 

 the absorptive process. When it is not absorbed, it is 

 greatest at the toe, and pumiced foot results. In other 

 cases the os pedis may not descend, but the irritation being 

 kept up, the function of the coronary substance is more or 



