ACUTE LAMINITIS. 405 



protruded through the horny sole, which is sometimes the case — the 

 sole never again restored to its normal state, and therefore the lame- 

 ness arising from the tenderness of tread consequent thereon be- 

 comes permanent and irremoveable ; notwithstanding there be cases, 

 as we shall find when we come to consider the sub-acute form of the 

 disease, which admit of mitigation so far as to enable the animal to 

 perform certain duties at, for the most part, a slow or walking pace. 

 This is the only consolation left to us. At the same time we must 

 bear in mind, that the protrusion of the cofRn-bone through the 

 horny sole is the signal, in most cases, for the destruction of a 

 life reduced to eke out its existence in a state of suffering and 

 wretchedness. But, now and then we have, instead of this dis- 

 placement and disorganization of parts taking place. 



Suppuration of the Foot. Purulent matter at first makes its 

 appearance in scanty patches, mingled with the serous or sero-albu- 

 minous effusion at the coronet. By degrees, pus becomes the 

 predominant secretion ; so that what with parts in succession 

 taking on the suppurative action, and the pus itself collecting and 

 gravitating and spreading in every direction, gradually a separa- 

 tion is worked between the sensitive foot and its horny case, 

 until, in the end, the latter, losing all hold and connexion, is cast, 

 i. e., is thrown off the foot, the same as a loose shoe is kicked off 

 one of our own feet. Of this, of course, the consequences are 

 grievous in the extreme ; since through such a catastrophe the 

 case of our poor sufferer is rendered utterly beyond the pale of all 

 remedy and hope, and he himself has become a fit subject only for 

 the knacker's yard. 



Mortification may be expected to ensue in cases wherein the 

 inflammation in the feet assumes a congestive character, and no 

 relief is afforded the over-loaded bloodvessels, either by treatment 

 or morbid issue. The swollen tissues of the sensitive foot, with the 

 horny wall opposed to them in front and the coffin-bone behind, 

 can in nowise obtain relief save through pressure upwards towards 

 the coronet ; and therefore it is that, unchecked by timely or effi- 

 cient treatment, or for want of any treatment at all, distended and 

 strangulated as they arfe, they fall into mortification. Inflammation 

 continues to rage with unabated violence ; suppuration does not fol- 



