688 OPERATIONS ON THE FOOT. 



reached the last limits of possibility. More recently, again, dur- 

 ing the war of 1870-71, when railroad traveling was more or less 

 impeded, laminitis became more common among horses from 

 which an excess of muscular effort was requu'ed. It is a frequent 

 and ver}' serious accident among English race horses (Hering). 



Laminitis in oxen is due almost exclusively to the fatigue of 

 long journeys and to repeated frictions of the unshod feet ujDon 

 the ground. It was very common before the era of raHroads in 

 animals brought to market. 



But prolonged rest and inaction also jn-edisj^ose to founder. 

 The disease is frequent in horses making sea voyages. It is not 

 rare to see horses become foundered when they are obliged to 

 stand uj) during several days in consequence of injuries to the ex- 

 tremities, or other pathological conditions, requiring them to be 

 kept in slings. In diseases of the feet which have requii-ed pain- 

 ful operations (toe or quarter cracks, punctiu-ed wounds of the 

 feet, quittor, etc.) it is quite common to see an animal persevere 

 in maintaining the standing jjosition, and too often has the leg 

 corresponding to one first attacked become also affected, leaving 

 both of the anterior or both of the j)osterior ultimately affected in 

 a serious manner. 



It is common for laminitis to follow intestinal congestions, 

 especially if these result from the administration of a drastic 

 purge, as aloes for example, and this is a very serious form of the 

 disease. Tisserand has seen laminitis of the anterior extremities 

 following j)arturition in mares, and particularly after abortion. 

 Gloag and Smith have observed similar facts. Hertwig says that 

 it sometimes follows rheumatismal affections, especially the acute 

 foi'm. 



A metastatic laminitis has been seen following diseases of the 

 chest. H. Bouley does not believe in these cases, and thinks the 

 laminitis is the effect of the quadrupedal standing position, or 

 also the feeding with farinaceous substances in too great quantity. 

 At times, founder accompanies malignant fevers, such as anthrax 

 and typhoid attacks, which are always accompanied with a certain 

 alteration of the blood * 



VII. Treatment. — In acute laminitis all attempts must tend 

 to remove the congestion of the keratogenous apparatus, or at 

 least to abate its intensity, so as to prevent or diminish the seri- 

 ous sequelae that may too often follow. To effect this, general or 



