ACUTE LAMINITIS. 397 



being unaccustomed to bear so much weight, they remain, the same 

 writer goes on to say, not long in this situation before they become 

 affected themselves with the disease. 



This extension of laminitis to all four feet makes matters still 

 worse. The standing becomes now so painful and insecure, that 

 the patient is more likely to lie than to keep erect. The recumbent 

 is a posture, indeed, so much at present preferred, that we have 

 insuperable difficulty in rousing him up upon his feet. As for 

 walking, he can hardly manage progression any how, — will not, 

 indeed, attempt it. 



The hoofs are hot. The inflammation is so intense, that heat is 

 transmitted through the (nearly half-inch) thickness of the crust 

 to our hand. The sole of the hoof, and the frog even, likewise 

 feel hot. Blood has been seen to ooze from the coronet*. 



Throbbing of the pastern arteries is another well-marked symp- 

 tom. These are the vessels which supply the inflamed parts with 

 blood. They are, under inflammatory action, in a state of fulness, 

 and pulsate violently under pressure of the fingers. There is also 



Fulness of the pastern and coronet, and tenderness, sometimes, of 

 the sole as well. Indeed, D'Arboval maintains that the disease 

 (la phlegnnasie afpelee la fourbure) itself reaches these parts, and 

 the joints which they go to form as well. After a time the coro- 

 net loses its fulness, and manifests, especially on pressure, a sink- 

 ing inwards. Sometimes the legs are swollen. 



The pain, in addition to the unmistakeable evidence we have 

 already had of it, may locally be made manifest by tapping the hoofs 

 with some hard body, such as the handle of a smith's hammer, or, 

 so far as the sole is concerned, by compressing it with the pincers. 

 Altogether, it is of the most distressing character, disordering the 

 whole system to that degree, that 



Constitutional or symptomatic fever is the inevitable conse- 

 quence. The animal is alarmingly ill; very much excited; has a 

 most anxious look ; feels hot all over ; oftentimes is actually sweat- 

 ing through the agony he is in. His mouth is parched ; his very 

 breath is hot ; his respiration is short, hurried, and painful ; his 

 pulse very high, and full and remarkably hard ; his mucous mem- 

 * " Posthumous Veterinary Records" of the late Mr. Field. 



