160 LAMENESS OF THE HORSE 



position, the condition is aggravated. This experiment may be 

 used for diagnostic purposes. 



Treatment. — When the anatomy of the diseased parts is 

 taken into consideration, and an analysis of the lesions which 

 occur in cases where considerable structural change is occasioned 

 by this affection, it is obvious that recovery is impossible. Only 

 in eases where the inflammation is promptly cheeked before 

 damage has been done the navicular bone or the flexor tendon, 

 is permanent recovery possible. The disease is not frequently 

 treated during this stage, however, and in the majority of in- 

 stances the condition becomes chronic. 



As soon as a diagnosis is made the shoes must be removed, the 

 toe shortened with the hoof pincers and rasp and the subject is 

 put in a well bedded box-stall. If the animal is very lame and 

 the inflammation is acute, ice-cold packs should be applied to 

 the feet. As soon as acute inflammation has subsided the foot 

 may be so pared that all excess of sole and frog is removed with- 

 out lowering the heels, and the animal may be blistered about 

 the coronet region. The subject may be shod later, with heel 

 calks that raise the heel moderately and a protracted period of 

 rest should be enforced. 



Tn cases where no acute inflammatory condition exists, neurec- 

 tomy is beneficial. One must discriminate, however, between 

 favorable and unfavorable subjects. This is not a last resort 

 expedient to be employed in cnses where extensive lesions of the 

 navicular structures exists. With proper shoeing, and by put- 

 ting the subject at suitable work, where concussion of fast travel 

 on hard roads is not necessary, the best results are obtainable. 



Laminitis. 



This disease is primarily a non-infective inflammation of the 

 sensitive laminae which very frequently affects the front feet. 

 Often all four feet are affected, less frequently one foot (when 

 its fellow is unable to sustain weight) and rarely the hind feet 

 alone. 



Occurrence.— Probably a greater number of cases of laminitis 

 occur in localities where horses that are worked on heavy trans- 



