ACUTE FOUNDER. 525 



they fall off, when, of course, the animal is of necessity- 

 destroyed, as a perfect hoof will never be renewed. 



Treatment. — As soon a„s the disease is discovered, if you 

 are able so to do, proceed to remove the shoes ; and, while 

 the horse can yet stand, thin the sole and crust around, 

 allowing him a momentary respite, or he may fall on the 

 operator. If his state utterly precludes his standing up so 

 long, support him by every means at hand ; for thinning 

 the hoof is so necessary to relieve the internal pressure, 

 that it cannot be dispensed with. The next point is, by 

 arteriotomy, to abstract blood from the toe of each affected 

 foot to the amount of two quarts from each, if the founder 

 extends to all four of the feet ; but take three quarts from 

 each, if the disease is confined to the fore feet only, as is 

 most common. To encourage the bleeding when it does 

 not flow sufficiently free, the hoofs may be immersed in 

 warm water, or surrounded with cloths, and warm water 

 poured on them. As soon as the disposition to suppura- 

 tion has commenced, which is usually about the fourth or 

 fifth day in very acute cases, then topical bleeding might be 

 productive of mortification. The next indication is the 

 continued application of moisture to the feet, either by wet 

 cloths, or by cold poultices ; or by the cold bath, if the 

 horse can be made to stand. In a horse that lies almost 

 incessantly, coarse cloths are wrapped around the feet, these 

 being moistened with the coldest water, and covered with 

 thin gutta percha. Although the inflammation runs so high 

 as totally to prevent the horse rising, and his pulse be at 

 90°, he nevertheless may recover. We should also, in all 

 very acute cases where there was much plethora, prefer 

 cold applications ; and a shallow bath, in which the horse 

 if he will stand may be allowed to remain night and day, 

 is an excellent addition to a veterinary establishment. Where 

 the bath is absent, the horse ought to be placed in a loose 

 box, the flooring of which should be strewn with wet tan, 

 that ought to be further watered every second hour. 



The Constitutional Treatment should be that prescribed 

 for diffused inflammation ; except that, while we unload the 

 bowels by back-raking, clysters, and laxatives by the mouth, 

 we should avoid active purgation, which would distress the 

 horse, and might increase the fever ; besides, in this dis- 



