120 THE HORSE. 



ture at the coronet, which permanently prevents the formation 

 of sound horn at the part. False-quarter cannot be cured, but 

 it may not interfere with the usefulness of horses for slow 

 work. 



Acute Laminitis.—This inost serious disease of the 

 feet is also known as " inflammation of the feet," or " acute 

 founder." It consists in inflammation of the sensitive part 

 of the foot, and occurs chiefly in the fore legs. Several causes 

 give rise to acute laminitis, the chief ones being severe con- 

 cussion to the feet, continued want of exercise, feeding on 

 too rich and heating food, colic, and superpurgation, while it 

 often appears in the train of some other illness. The disease 

 causes great pain to the horse, and makes it go dead lame. 

 The patient suffers from fever, and evinces much pain by its 

 uneasy behaviour, quick breathing, loss of appetite, etc., nor 

 will the animal move on account of the pain this would cause. 

 The feet are hot, and on being tapped w^ith a hammer, the 

 horse shows increased pain. Veterinary assistance should be 

 called in, as treatment by an inexperienced amateur is out of 

 the question. Recurrent attacks of acute laminitis lead to a 

 condition of the feet known as chronic laminitis. (See 

 page 108,) 



Quittor. — The term quitter is applied to an abscess in the 

 foot, which has its opening at the coronet. Quitters occur 

 chiefly in heavy horses, and are caused by serious injuries to 

 the foot, such as a tread from the opposite foot, or a severe 

 blow^ or bad prick in shoeing, etc. A quittor should be treated 

 by the veterinary surgeon. 



MiM^^-'fe^Gr, — This complaint consists in an inflamed con- 

 dition of the skin of the legs and sometimes also of that of 

 the belly. The patient generally shows feverish symptoms in 

 addition to the local symptoms. Considerable soreness is 

 present in the affected limbs. Mud-fever attacks principally 

 light horses. Treatment consists m giving rest, and putting 

 the horse on a laxative diet. Frequent fomentations 

 to the inflamed parts of the skin with a solution 

 of Goulard's extract in warm water, in the proportion 



