170 



UNASKED ADVICE. 



I speak hitherto only of the fore feet, but no horse 

 ever yet had laminitis behind only^ although cases have 

 now and then occurred, but very seldom, where all four 

 feet were affected. In the acute larainitis putting the 

 feet in hot water affords relief, by softening the horn ; 

 but it is very difficult to do this when both feet are 

 affected, unless you have a bath for the purpose. When 

 it can be managed, bleeding at the toe gives local as 

 well as general relief; bleeding in the neck naturally 

 affords the latter only. Many horses are never again 

 sound in their feet after an attack of laminitis, but this 

 is an evil to be dreaded rather than expected as a natural 

 consequence. Laminitis was called " founder ^' by our 

 forefathers ; they also had an imaginary disease in their 

 list called " chest founder,'^ which was really foot lame- 

 ness, and the muscles of the chest decreased from 

 want of use of the arms and fore legs generally. The 

 symptoms of acute fever in the feet are quite unmis- 

 takable ; the most prominent is the position in which 

 the horse stands. He leans back, with his fore feet out 

 as far as possible in front of him, and bears all his weight 

 on the hind legs. This attitude cannot be mistaken, and 

 professional assistance should be sought at once. In its 

 absence bleeding can do no harm, unless it be overdone ; 

 about a gallon of blood is an average quantity to take 

 from a horse suffering from fever in the feet. If the 

 horse be bled at the toe — which the blacksmith can 

 generally manage to do well enough — the shoe will have 

 to be tacked on again, in order to keep in its place 

 whatever has been used (tow generally) to stop the 

 bleeding. The worst case of chronic fever in the feet 

 that I ever saw was that of a light harness mare ; she 

 was bought at TattersalFs, being to all appearance sound. 



