DISEASES AFFECTING THE FEET 



value, but the lameness can often be obscured 

 by operation — neurectomy, i.e. excision of a 

 portion of the nerves supplying the foot with 

 sensation. The relief from lameness does 

 not in any way minimise the disease, and 

 the most that it can do is to enable the owner 

 to work the animal for a year or two longer, but 

 a hunter that has been unnerved most certainly 

 is not, in the author's opinion, a reliable animal 

 for any man to use who values his own life. 



LAMINITIS OR FOUNDER 

 (FEVER IN THE FEET) 



This affection is, unfortunately, of rather 

 frequent occurrence, the hunter not being an 

 exception to the rule. It assumes both acute 

 and sub-acute forms, both of which are 

 equally detrimental. Laminitis, as the name 

 implies, consists of congestion or inflammation 

 of the sensitive lamincs, or leaf-like structures 

 clothing the pedal bone, within the hoof, the 

 said laminae being dovetailed into correspond- 

 ing horny, or insensitive lamincs, upon the 

 inner face of the hoof. Under normal condi- 



183 



