166 



LAMENESS OF THE HORSE 



a, rule in from four to ten days after the initial attack of acute 

 laminitis. Needless to say these cases are hojieless, when the 

 economic phase of handling subjects is considered. 



Treatment. — Much depends upon the concomitant disturb- 

 ances (or causes if one is justified in referring to them as such) 

 as to the manner in which laminitis is to be treated. In all cases 

 where digestive disturbances exist, the prompt unloading of the 



Fig. 34 — Showing the effects of laminitis. By permission, from Merillat's 

 "Veterinary Surgical Operations." 



contents of the alimentary canal is certainly indicated. D. M. 

 Campbell^ in a discussion of laminitis has the following to say 

 regarding the treatment of such cases : 



Because superpurgation may be followed by laminitis, the ad- 

 visa))ility of using the active hypodermic cathartics is questioned. 

 Neither arecolin nor eserin can cause superpurgation. The action 

 of the former does not continue longer than an hour after ad- 

 ministration and of the latter not more than eight hours. The 

 action of either is mild after the first few minutes. 



I do not think that anyone has recommended either arecolin 

 or eserin where there is severe purgation. Where the intestinal 

 canal is fairly well emptied and its contents fluid, I should be 

 inclined to rely ujion intestinal antiseptics to hold in check harm- 

 ful bacterial growth. 



^American Journal of Veterinary Medicine, Vol. XI, page .318. 



