no THE HORSE 



pain in the feet is so acute that the horse is either unable 

 to do this or does so with difficulty. When the attempt 

 is made to back the animal it will be at once seen that the 

 feet are the seat of the trouble. Either the fore, hind, or 

 all four feet may be implicated, and there is no rule as to 

 those which will be affected with the malady. In the 

 majority of instances both fore feet are the seat of the 

 trouble, consequently, in order to diminish the pain by 

 relieving the pressure, the fore feet are thrown forwards, 

 and the hind ones drav/n more under the body. This 

 allows the animal to place the greatest weight on the 

 heels, and alleviate the painful toe pressure. When all 

 four feet are i2»£plicated, they are bunched together under 

 the body. 



In addition to these more purely local signs, we have 

 others of a constitutional nature, indicated by sv/eating, 

 increased temperature of the body (usually 105° or 106° 

 Fahr.), congestion of the eyelids, rapid and full pulse 

 and distressed breathing, and as the disease progresses 

 the patient gradually becomes riveted to the ground. 

 In severe attacks the symptoms are excessively urgent, 

 therefore the expediency of having skilful advice is at 

 once obvious. In the absence of this, however, the animal 

 should be placed in a loose box and the shoes immediately 

 removed. 



Causes of Laminitis. — As previously stated, one of the 

 chief causes is concussion, but there are others, such as 

 an overdose of physic, feeding on green wheat, likewise 

 as a sequel to parturition, in which case the malady arises 

 from septic material such as decomposing placental 

 membrane, hence the expediency of the early removal of 

 the placenta. Laminitis sometimes is a result of a 

 metastatic inflamm.ation, i.e. a change of inflammatory 

 action from such organs as the lungs to the feet. Animals 

 which are overburdened with flesh, i.e. plethoric, are pre- 

 disposed, under the foregoing circumstances, to become 

 " foundered/' 



