290 FOUNDER. 



FOUNDER. 



Founder, or laminitis, is an inflammatory condition of the 

 laminoe of the feet, which are the most sensitive parts of these 

 important appendages. Founder is said to be produced by 

 various causes, such as hard driving, watering when warm, 

 standing in a draught of air, or upon plank floors, and many 

 others. 



The author, however, views it in a different light, attributing 

 its existence principally to one general cause, namely, contrac- 

 tion of the hoof, the causes before named being the immediate 

 or exciting causes. This view is sustained by many facts. 

 Founder does not occur in one case out of fifty in a healthy, 

 open foot; nor are the hind feet often involved, as they are 

 rarely in a contracted condition. 



The symptoms are a full, quick pulse, from sixty upwards ; 

 accelerated respiration ; the fore feet are hot and tender, the 

 animal for relief throwing his body back upon the hind legs, 

 extending the fore legs until he rests upon the heels, and 

 sometimes lying down, particularly if the hind feet are involved ; 

 the animal also manifests much pain. 



If the animal is in full condition, two quarts of blood 

 should be taken from each of the fore feet ; an active purging 

 ball should be given, followed by one-drachm doses of bella- 

 donna made into pills every four hours ; poultices of flaxseed 

 meal should be applied to the feet for several days ; injections 

 of soap and water, also ought not to be neglected. By this 

 treatment the animal is usually well again in a week, or even 

 less; but if the disease is neglected until it becomes chronic, 

 the animal will ever after remain unsound, though he may be 



