The Foot — Laminitis. 113 



It is accordingly most severe when the surround- 

 ings are the most unyielding. With increased 

 heat of the surface, great thirst, dry skin, scanty 

 and high coloured urine, we have the most 

 obstinate and sluggish state of the bowels. 

 Many different modes of treatment have been 

 recommended, and reasoning on general physio- 

 logical principles, the functions of the alimentary 

 canal srre so tardily carried on that we cannot 

 insure the operation of a purge under twenty- 

 four hours, there being no animal but the horse 

 in which acute disease makes such sad havoc in 

 so short a space of time. Empty his stomach 

 you cannot with an emetic, nor can you purge 

 in a few hours ; and, well knowing the obstinacy 

 of the bowels in this disease, our measure must 

 be prompt to act, for the grand purpose, if the 

 groom or veterinary surgeon desires to be suc- 

 cessful, must be to conquer the disease by resolu- 

 tion. As every other mode of termination is 

 unfavourable, to bring about this issue is the aim 

 and end of every one treating this malady, and 

 as the nature of the disease, its seat and the 

 disorganisation which it produces are well known, 

 this result is not so difficult of accomplishment 

 as at first sight appears. In proof of this I beg 

 to offer to my readers the treatment I have found 

 successful during a number of years' practice. 

 It is as follows : bleeding from the coronary 

 plexus, give aconite in ten-grain doses every hour 

 in one pint of cold water ; gently purge, give 

 nitrate of potass^ three drachms in cold luater 

 every time the patient drinks, day and night; 



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