80 



EXTERNAL SOURCES OF PAIN IN THE FOOT. 



Another seat or source of pain and lameness may be located 

 in tissues, which, though not found in the foot, are yet the 

 source of every movement of that organ. Therefore, whatever 

 impairs the efficiency of the former, must necessarily exert a 

 prejudicial effect upon the latter, just as any painful affection 

 of the feet must have a paralyzing influence upon the muscular 

 organs that control them. 



MUSCULAR SPASMS, OR CRAMP. 



Druitt thus writes of these diseased conditions : " Pain may 

 arise from muscular spasms, or cramp, or from diseased condi- 

 tion of the nerves, or of the nerve-centres, without the existence 

 of the least inflammation. Such pain may often be known by 

 its coming and going, without apparent cause. It is often in- 

 tense in proportion to the debilitated condition of the patient. 

 It may last for months without being followed by any of the 

 changes of structure which are commonly called inflammatory." 

 I believe this is equally true of the equine, as the human 

 patient, and that these are just the conditions which have led 

 some veterinary writers to question the accuracy of the term 

 laminitis where there has been no evidence of inflammation in 

 the laminal tissues. 



NON-INFLAMMATORY AFFECTIONS. THE "RAGGED EDGE." 



I can readily concur with those writers and concede an occa- 

 sional primary origin of lameness to muscles that govern the 

 movements of the leg and foot, and hold still, that as a rule it 

 will be found, by the effects of the treatment I pursue and recom- 

 mend in such cases, that this class of ailments arises primarily 

 from pressure upon the sensitive organization of the foot, and 

 that the muscular organs that govern the movements of the 

 foot are affected secondarily. The effects of the treatment will 

 reveal the true primary seat of the trouble. I think very little 

 observation is necessary to perceive that it is the sub-acute 



