DISEASES OF THE EOESE. 4 IT 



the larniiiffi. That it is then the result of sympathetic action is no- 

 doubt more than hypothetical, for when there is no derangement of 

 the alimentary canal a dose of cathartic medicine will at times bring: 

 on severe laminitis. 



(7) Most all the older authorities were agreed that metastatic lami- 

 nitis is a reality. In my opinion metastatic laminitis is nothing more 

 nor less than concurrent laminitis, and presents little in any way pecul- 

 iar outside the imperfectly understood exciting cause. The practi- 

 tioner who allows the acute symptoms of the laminitis to mislead him^ 

 simply because their severity has overshadowed those of the primary- 

 disease, ma}^ lose his case through unguarded subsequent treatment. 

 This form of laminitis is by no means commonl}^ met with. It may be^ 

 found in conjunction with pneumonia, according to Youatt with inflam- 

 mation of the bowels and ej^es, and according to Law and Williams 

 sometimes with bronchitis. 



Si/mptoms.- — Laminitis is characterized bj^ a congregation of symp- 

 toms so well marked as scarcely to be misinterpreted by the most 

 casual observer. They are nearlj^ constant in their manifeshitions, 

 modified by the number of feet affected, the cause which has induced" 

 the disease, the previous condition of the patient, and the various other- 

 influences which operate in all diseases to some extent. They may l)e- 

 divided into general sjmiptoms, which are concomitants of all cases of 

 the disease, subject to variations in degree only, and special sjauptoms, 

 or those which serve to determine the feet affected and the complications 

 which ma}^ arise. 



General symjytoms. — Usuall}^, the first sjmiptom is the interference- 

 with locomotion. Occasionally the other symptoms are j^resented firsts. 

 As the lameness develops the pulse becomes accelerated, full, hard^ 

 and strikes the finger strongly; the temperature soon rises several' 

 degrees above the normal, reaching sometimes 106° F. ; it generally 

 ranges between 102.5° and 105° F. The respirations are rapid and' 

 panting in character, the nostrils w idely dilated, and the mucous mem- 

 branes highly injected. The facial expression is anxious and indicative- 

 of the most acute suffering, v/hile the bod}'^ is more or less bedewed' 

 with sweat. At first there may bo a tendency to diarrhea; or it may 

 appear later as the result of the medicines used. The urine is high 

 colored, scant in quantitj^, and of increased specific gravity, ov/ing ta 

 the water being eliminated b}^ the skin instead of the kidneys. Ther 

 appetite is impaired, sometimes entirely lost, but thirst is greatly- 

 increased. The affected feet are hot and dry, and are relieved as much 

 as possible from bearing weight. Rapping them with a hammer, or 

 compelling the animal to stand upon one affected member, causes 

 intense pain. The artery at the fetlock throbs beneath the finger. 



Special symptoms.— \a9^\\\X,j to affection varies in the different feet 

 according to the exciting cause. Any one or more of the feet may 

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