414 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 



tumors are large and the pastern joint involved firing often hastens 

 the process of anchylosis and should always be tried. 



Where the lower joint is involved or where the tumor interferes 

 with the action of the tendons recovery is not to be expected. In 

 many of these latter cases, however, the animal may be made service- 

 able by proper shoeing. If the patient walks with the toe on the 

 ground the foot should be shod with a high-heeled shoe and a short 

 toe. On the other hand, if he walks on the heel, a thick-toed and thin- 

 heeled shoe must be worn. 



Since ringbone is considered to be one of the hereditar}- diseases, no 

 animal suffering from this trouble should over be used for breeding 

 purposes. 



LAMIXITIS, OR FOUNDER. 



Laminitis is a simple inflammation of the sensitive lamina; of the 

 foct, characterized by the general phenomena attending inflamma- 

 tion of the skin and mucous membranes, producing no constitutional 

 disturbances except those dependent upon the local disease, and hav- 

 ing a strong tendency", in severe cases, to destructive disorganization 

 of the tissues affected. 



Causes. — The causes of laminitis are as wide and variable as in an}' 

 of the local inflammations, and may. be divided into two classes — the 

 jpredisposing and the excitlmj. 



Predisposing causes. — From personal observation I do not know that 

 any particular construction of foot or any special breed of horses is 

 predisposed to this disease, neither can I find anything to warrant 

 the assumption that it is in any way hereditary; so that while we 

 may easily cultivate a predisposition to the disease, it does not origi- 

 nate without an exciting cause. Like most other tissues, a predisposi- 

 tion to inflammation may be induced in the sensitive laminaj b}' an}- 

 cause which lessens their power of withstanding the work imposed on 

 them. It exis'ts to an extent in those animals unaccustomed to work, 

 particularly if they are plethoric, and in all those that have been pre- 

 vious subjects of the disease; for the same rule holds good here that 

 we find in so many diseases— «*. <?., that one attack impairs the func- 

 tional activity of the affected tissues and renders them more easy of a 

 subsequent inflammation. Unusual excitement by determining an 

 excessive blood supplj^, bad shoeing, careless paring of the feet by 

 removing the sole support, and iiigh calkings without corresponding 

 toe pieces must be included under this head. 



Exciting causes. — The exciting causes of laminitis are many and 

 varied. The most common are concussion, overexertion, exhaustion, 

 rapid changes of temperature, ingestion of various foods, purgatives, 

 and the oft-mentioned metastasis. 



(1) Concussion produces this disease b^^ local overstimulation. The 

 excessive excitement is followed by an almost complete exhaustion of 



