250 DISEASES OF HORSES AND CATTLE. 



toe of the coffin bone presses downward on the 

 sensitive sole, interfering with the secreting pro- 

 cess, rendering the horny sole weak, dry, cheesy or 

 spongy, and not strong enough to protect the sen- 

 sitive parts within. The outer horn of the wall 

 becomes ribbed on account of the secreting sur- 

 face of the coronary band being interfered with. 

 The ribs or rings of founder are very irregular, and 

 run together toward the front of the foot. Gener- 

 ally the disease is confined to the fore feet, but all 

 may be affected, or only one hind foot, the result of 

 long standing on it on account of some injury to the 

 other foot or leg. When a horse has a sore foot or 

 a very lame leg the shoe should be removed from 

 the well foot and the animal encouraged to lie 

 down as much as possible, or have it put into a 

 sling so as to rest the well foot in case it should 

 become affected by laminitis. I have seen many 

 bad cases from this cause. 



Symptoms: The pain a horse suffers from an 

 acute attack of laminitis is agonizing and persist- 

 ent, as the sensitive part of the foot lies between 

 the bony structures on the inside and the unyield- 

 ing hoof; and as it swells by its blood vessels being- 

 gorged with blood, it has no room to expand, and 

 this pressure of the nerves causes intense pain. 

 The animal stands in its stall breathing fast and 

 heavy, and the nostrils are dilated. If the fore feet 

 are the ones affected they will be stretched out in 

 front, resting on the heels, and the hind feet 

 brought well forward under the body, and the back 

 will be arched. It stands in this way in order to 



