398 ACUTE LAMINITIS. 



branes are all vascular. and scarlet from irritation ; parts of his body 

 are in a state of tremor ; he is continually changing either his posi- 

 tion or situation in search of relief-r-his very countenance implor- 

 ingly asks for it; and if it be not, in some shape or another, found or 

 administered, there is danger, from the fever of irritation running 

 so high, of the poor sufferer succumbing, or, at least, of being 

 reduced to that deplorable condition wherein, human aid proving 

 unavailing, it becomes a real act of humanity to recommend a 

 pistol being presented to his head. 



Diagnosis. — With symptoms so strongly marked as those I 

 have described as characteristic of laminitis, persons acquainted 

 with the disease cannot but express surprise when they hear of its 

 occurring unrecognised, or of any other disease being mistaken 

 for it. I have heard my professional predecessor, the late Mr. 

 Bloxham, say, that he was on one occasion called in by a veterinary 

 surgeon practising in London, to be consulted as to the treatment 

 of a horse suffering from supposed " inflammation of the kidneys.'* 

 He found the patient upon his side, kicking and pawing in violent 

 pain, and was told that " pressure upon the loins increased this 

 great pain." Mr. B., however, suspecting what was amiss from 

 finding the feet very hot, requested that the horse might be made to 

 rise. This had been deemed impracticable. At length, however, 

 after some fresh trials, with the usual difficulty and peculiarity of 

 effort, the standing posture was effected ; and no sooner was it ac- 

 complished than "the tale was told" — the nature of the disease 

 was made manifest beyond a doubt. And this constitutes the best 

 method of procedure whenever the animal is found lying, and any 

 doubt impends as to what is amiss with him. 



The heaving of the flanks and the dilated nostrils, indicating 

 apparent embarrassment in the respiration, coupled with the cir- 

 cumstance of the patient being found standing, is apt to lead the 

 inexperienced to suppose that the lungs or the pleura is the seat 

 of disease. Any forced attempt to step or walk, however, would 

 immediately dissipate such a notion as this; though it is possi- 

 ble the same might induce a supposition that the kidneys were the 

 seat of disease. The posture in which the animal is standing, and 

 the attempt to walk, with reference to the fore feet being the parts 



