102 



* 



and gradually increasing according to the animal's capability, 

 feeding well the whole time. 



In about a week's time, should the lameness not disappear, 

 or the case should not appear to progress satisfactorily, the 

 shoes should be removed and an examination made ; the ob- 

 stacles to progress discovered if possible; a re-adjustment of 

 the shoes effected, and cautious dilation again pursued, not for- 

 getting the persistent use of the softening poultice, both night 

 and day. There is not more than one case in a hundred of 

 simple contraction that will not yield to simple expansion. 



In coarse-bred horses the same care should be taken in 

 attaching the shoe, but the same nicely regulated exercise is 

 not so necessary as in the well-bred trotter or runner. Light 

 work for such horses is preferable to standing in the stable. 



In very many cases Sweeny or Atrophy of the shoulder mus- 

 cles is the result of contraction. See Article on Sweeny. 



LAMINITIS — ACUTE RHEUMATISM. ACUTE 



FOUNDER. 



SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT. 



There are various designations of this disease, the prominent 

 symptoms of which are the extreme painfulness of progression, 

 the high sympathetic fever, and the peculiar attitude assumed 

 by the animal to relieve the fore parts of its feet from pressure, 

 the very opposite symptom of the navicular disease. Accord- 

 ing to the severity of the disease will be the manifestations of 

 pain, the difficulty of progression, and the extent to which he 

 throws his weight upon his heels. Whether they be hind or 

 fore, or all four, feet, the animal's endeavor is plainly to press 

 as little as possible upon the fore parts of the feet. The fore 

 feet are oftener attacked than the hind ones; less frequently 

 are all the four feet, and more rarely still the hind without the 

 fore feet. It lies down, and is very unwilling to rise when it is 

 down. It wears a very anxious look and painful expression, 

 and sweats very much in a severe case. The temperature of 



