236 DISEASES OF HORSES. 



a pint of the expressed juice to be given daily as a drink ; and a 

 poultice of the herb to be applied to the heels. In some cases of 

 long standing when the running has ceased, a thickened state of 

 the limb remains ; which is best removed by firing, and which like- 

 wise is a preventive to a return. 



Diseases of the Feet. 



96. Founder of the feet is of two kinds, an acute and a chronic. 

 Acute founder is a disease that, until lately, was less understood 

 than almost any other. After a very severe day's work, or when 

 very much heated, if a horse get a sudden chill by standing in snow 

 or cold water, it is not uncommon for him to be seized with universal 

 stiffness, and every symptom of great fever. Such a horse is said 

 to be body foundered. By degrees, however, it is observed that the 

 animal has an extreme disinclination to remain on his feet ; from 

 whence it will appear that the whole of them are affected, when the 

 horse draws his hind feet under him, his fore only are affected, and 

 when he draws his fore feet under him his hinder feet are the seat 

 of the complaint ; but which is seldom the case. On feeling the 

 feet they will be found intensely hot, and the pastern arteries beat 

 with great violence. After a few days, unless the disease abate, a 

 separation of the hoofs from the coronet takes place, and at last 

 they fall entirely off. 



97. The treatment. At the commencement of the disease bleed 

 largely, as well by the neck as from the toe of each affected foot, 

 by paring, until the blood flows freely. After which immerse each 

 foot in a goulard poultice (115,) give the fever powder or drink, 

 (Vet. Pha. 157 & 158,) litter up to the belly ; and if amendment 

 do not take place, renew the bleedings, and blister round the 

 pasterns. 



98. Chronic founder, contraction or fever in the feet. The arti- 

 ficial life that horses lead, subjects them to many diseases ; one of 

 the principal of which is that of contracted feet. Elaine considers 

 a neglect of sufficient paring of the hoof, the application of artificial 

 heat from hot stables, and hot litter, the deprivation of natural 

 moisture, constitutional liability, and the existence of thrushes, as 

 among the principal causes of this evil. It is more common amoag 

 blood horses, than to others, and he observes, that dark chesnuts 

 are of all others most prone to it. 



99 The treatment of contraction in the feet. It is better to pre. 

 vent, than to be under the necessity of attempting to cure the evil. 



