INJURIES TO HORN SECKETING STRUCTURES. 31T 



the injured area. Certain constituents of the blood may then 

 pass through the vessel walls into neighbouring tissues, causing 

 changes in form and relation and interfering with the function 

 of the inflamed parts. 



The symptoms of intlammation are five, viz., pain, increased 

 warmth, local reddening, swelling, and impaired function. 

 These symptoms are only to be observed in their entirety during 

 inflammation of superficial portions of the body. Inflammation 

 of internal organs, on the other hand, can only be conjectured 

 from disturbed function and its consequences. 



In inflammation within the hoof the Ave above named 

 symptoms are all present though not all observable ; thua 

 swelling and redness can only be noted when the coronary 

 band and the bulbs are inflamed, and even then redness is only 

 to be seen in non-pigmented skin. In laminitis, however, 

 another important symptom is usually present, viz., increased 

 pulsation of the digital arteries. Pain, increased warmth, and 

 lameness are, however, invariably present, and are, therefore, 

 of the greatest diagnostic value. The seat of inflammation is 

 usually the corium. When lameness is solely due to contrac- 

 tion, etc., of the hoof, symptoms of inflammation are wanting, 

 though laminitis is probably more apt to occur in weak and 

 fleshy than in sound, strong hoofs. 



The inflammation in from about two to six days ends in 

 resolution, or may be followed by so-called rheumatic or chronic 

 laminitis, suppuration, which is indicated by continued pain, 

 or even by necrosis and septic-inflammation, wliich are usually 

 followed by loss of the hoof and death. 



The examination should be commenced by walking the 

 horse, when it will be seen whether the animal is lame at all, 

 and if so, on which limb. The statements of the groom are 

 not always to be relied on, nor (after exercise) is the lameness 

 always so marked as to be seen at the first glance ; sometimes 

 it is only visible at a trot or on hard pavement. The horse 

 when walked or trotted, especially on hard ground, will be 

 seen to go short and timidly on the lame foot, the limb not 

 being extended in the ordinary way, the diseased foot being 

 lifted from the ground more rapidly than the sound one, and 

 the weight of the body thrown more rapidly and with more 

 force on the normal foot. The body, therefore, appears to 



