404 ACUTE LAMINITIS. 



tion would seem to imply. Such, in practice, we do not find to 

 be the case : effusion, more or less, invariably occurring, and, for a 

 time at least, remaining. 



Effusion, therefore, is in a measure involved in resolution, 

 though the meaning commonly assigned to it is a termination in 

 advance of that stage. Instead of the crisis we are about the third 

 or fourth day anxiously looking for, the disease continues, though 

 with unincreased violence, two or three or more days longer, and 

 then the pain and suffering abate, and the animal appears to be 

 surmounting his troubles ; though, as but too frequently follows, it 

 is but to. experience others of another kind, arising from the effusion 

 into, and consequent disorganization of, the parts within his hoofs, 

 which is at the time proceeding. Our earliest indications of this 

 are, some marked alteration in the form of the wall of the affected 

 hoof in front — some unnatural slope or falling-in of it, and this is 

 accompanied hy sinking of the sole ; not to the extent to constitute 

 pumice, but still enough to shew that alterations are taking place, in 

 consequence of the disease, in the relative situation and connexion 

 of the parts within the hoof When the effusion is more extensive 

 as well as of a more intense character than this, we perceive indi- 

 cations of mischief going on at the coronet. The coronary body 

 loses its rotund plumpness; becomes flattened and even sunken; 

 and when pressed by the finger imparts a soft boggy feel, and pits 

 upon pressure, arising from a sero-lymphy effusion into its sub- 

 stance, which the pressure causes to ooze out. This is accompanied 

 by separation of the encircling border of new-formed horn, with its 

 thin wafery edging, from the true skin, with which in health it is 

 continuous and inseparable ; and sometimes to such an extent, that 

 the finger insinuated between the coronary border of the hoof and 

 the sensitive parts underneath, on either side, finds a ready passage 

 to the heel of the foot. All this portends mischief, the next stage 

 being 



Descent of the Coffin-bone and Bulging of the 

 Sole; and when this has become ascertained — as the appear- 

 ance of the sole itself will give unwelcome intelligence of, as 

 well as the sinking or indentation inward of the wall — our hopes 

 may be said to have all merged into despair. The coffin-bone can 

 never be raised again into its place — even though it may not have 



