230 THE STOCK owner's ADVISER, 



ing the toes from contact with the ground. AVhen the fore feet 

 are affected, he stands with the hind feet well under the body, 

 supporting the most of his weight upon them, while he stretches 

 his fore feet out in front with the heels resting upon the ground. 

 Some few will lie down when affected, and when forced to rise 

 will spring with the hind feet and stumble forward with a groan. 

 Great heat will be detected in the region of the coronet, which 

 can be easily felt through the hoof. The mouth is hot and dry, 

 and the bowels are constipated, except where the disease is 

 caused by super-purgation. (See illustration.) Acute laminitis 

 runs its course in from four to six days, and generally terminates 

 favorably. 



Treatment. — In this disease nothing has proven so effectual 

 as the use of eight drachms of aloes, where it is not caused by 

 super-purgation. Enemas should l)e administered. Tincture 

 of aconite. United States pharmaeopa^ tincture, twenty drops 

 every three or four hours, is liighly recommended. Potassium 

 nitrate is almost indispensable in the treatment of this 

 disease. It should be placed in the drinking water, or given 

 in a drench if he will not take it in water. Three ounces should 

 be given in the course of twenty-four hours. The shoes should 

 be removed and warm fomentation applied from the knee down, 

 after which poultices of bran should be applied. The poultices 

 should be kept up for about forty hours. Then, if the animal 

 can be placed in water, he should be allowed to stand in the 

 stream or pond for three hours at a time during the day, and 

 placed in a comfortable, loose stall at night. The shoes should 

 be tacked on the third day after the attack and the animal exer- 

 cised. 



If relief is not obtained in four or five days after the above 

 treatment has been employed, it will be certain that exudation 

 more or less copious has taken place. The exudate must be re- 

 moved by cutting in at the toe and allowed to escape. A very 

 slight exudate may be removed by the absorptive process. The 

 poultices should not be continued too long. Plenty of cold 



