ic>8 FOUNDER, \'AR!aU.? NOTIONS AS TO ITS CAUSES. 



straight against each otlier, every capsule licing than filled with Us next cc.r- 

 respoiuling convex bone. 



Symptovis. — A kind of separate motion for the hind quarter, compared tc 

 the fore one, of which the exact perceptible division is the s^eat of the injuKy. 

 Sometimes it appears as far back as the lonis, ))iit when farther forward than 

 the twelfth spinous process, (at G. 2-1) on the frontispiece, it alTects the respi- 

 ration, and with it other vital functions, and the animal suffers in his general 

 health. It may be muscular or ligamentary, or compounded of both, in which 

 cases the parts adapt themselves to the derangement that has taken place, by 

 thickening their substance, and the first lameness decreases greatly: in this 

 event the horse's condition is not at all affected. While stahng, his efforts 

 are somewhat ludicrous ; as are also all attempts to make a trot of it when out 

 of harness. These symptoms have deceived some jjcrsons into the belief, 

 that the one or the other exertion has caused the stiain ; whereas it is only the 

 earliest demonstration of it to the observer. 



Remedies applied tnu'ly may assist nature, but the lameness never can be 

 cured completely, if the wrench or sprain has been of a violent sort, as in 

 case of "strain in the shoulder," let the animal be bled to a good extent, i. e. 

 from three to five quarts, according to the quantity or degree of viojence the 

 animal has sustained; for it usually hap[)ens that it has been strained all over, 

 in various parts. Two dray-horses, which were employed ;n pulling beer 

 butts from the cellar of a public house, being backed too close to the steps, fell 

 in, the weight of the hinder horse dragging in the fore one upon him. Much 

 contusion vvas the consequence, as well of the accident itself as in dragging 

 them out; they were in fact strained all over, so that they could scarcely stand 

 for a while. Bleeding copiously, however, to the amount of six quarts, re- 

 duced the tendency tcTinflammalion ; and although they might be pronounce I 

 hurt all over, and the hind horse in particular, both did well after physicking, 

 and a few days of light work. 



I have found a fomentation of hot vinegar of very great service, in a wel' 

 marked case of recent strain ; the plan recommended by White, of administer 

 ing it by means of a woollen cloth or rug, steeped and loosely wrung out, be- 

 ing followed. A fresh sheep-skin, just tiaycd, was applied immediately, and 

 the lameness sensibly lessoned, after two days, ap[)lying the fomentation four 

 or five times. 



FOUNDKR 



Is a disorder, or rather a complication of disorders, of the fore feet. Some con- 

 troversy has crept into our books of farriery latterly, as to what really is found- 

 er : and whilst some would confine their consideration of the subject to the 

 foot only, others follow the fashion of grooms, and ascribe the incurable lame- 

 ness that has no visible specific cause, to an affection of the chest. Hence 

 "chest founder" of the stables, and the "body founder" of White. "Shoulder- 

 Ehook" is a provincialism of the smithy, when the farrier can perceive "no 

 thing amiss" with the feet — so far as he can see, feel, or understand. Sur- 

 hatiniT was another name given to the symptom we now recognise as founder, 

 ot a tTme when it was the practice to divide and subdivide every disorder uiidei 

 manv, useless, and unmeaning appellations. 



Oause. — Hard work, bad shoeing, age and ill-usage, eiUier of which pro- 

 duce so many other disorders pertaining to the horse in his domesticated state, 

 precede foundei ; for, we never meet with it unless the animal has been so 

 treated or kept, and 1 look upon it rather as a com{)lication or elTect of several 

 diseases of the foot. Some of these, we have seen, are liable to be mistaken 

 for others; therefore do thev get maltreated, imperfectly cured, o' retain th« 



