ACUTE LAMINITIS. 395 



remarked that laminitis never immediately succeeds the applica- 

 tion of the cause giving rise to it; but that a horse coming off a 

 journey or trying feat of any kind will stand in the stable for an 

 hour or more before the laminitis, the consequence of it, becomes 

 developed. This, Professor Rigot accounts for by supposing that 

 exercise augments the capillary circulation of blood through the 

 foot, while rests proves unfavourable to it. After great exertion, 

 the plantar vessels become surcharged to that degree that the veins 

 are rendered incapable, during subsequent repose, of relieving the 

 capillaries ; hence congestion, followed by inflammation. 



The Symptoms of acute Laminitis — supposing the disease 

 to be, as it usually is, confined to the fore feet, and to be perfectly 

 developed — are of so marked and peculiar a character that they 

 can hardly, by a person pretending to any experience, be mistaken. 

 The horse presents himself in a paroxysm of pain. Should he be 

 standing, his posture is crouched, or " all of a heap," as the stable 

 phrase goes, and he is panting and blowing from the terrible 

 agony he is enduring. His general aspect and position is at 

 once striking and characteristic. His hind feet are advanced un- 

 derneath his body as far as he can get them, in order that he may 

 relieve his painful fore feet all he can from bearing any portion of 

 the superincumbent weight. If urged, or rather forced, to step 

 forward — for walking is out of the question — most unwillingly he 

 makes an effort to do so ; and his method of accomplishing it is 

 expressive of no disease save laminitis. Instead of advancing one 

 fore foot as ordinarily, he commences by shuffling his hind feet 

 still further underneath him, and then either steps, first with one 

 fore foot and then with the other, most gingerly upon his heels, or 

 else with an effort lifts both fore feet at once, and makes a sort of 

 timid leap forward. In this manner he accomplishes progression to a 

 very limited extent, after being compelled to muster all his courage 

 to do so If one (fore) foot suffer more than the other, he will shew 

 it in these efforts to move, if not at the time he is standing still. 

 Should the patient at our first visit be found lying, his efforts to 

 rise upon his painful feet are as singular and methodical as his at- 

 tempts to walk. He is probably lying stretched out upon his side, 



