FOUNDER. 83 



Cause. — rGiving cold water when overheated, and tired 

 from overwork. A tendency in the feet to take on in- 

 flammatory action. The animal not in proper health or 

 condition for performing heavy or fast work. 



Treatment. — Place the horse in a wide and airy stall, 

 with plenty of good straw for bedding to encourage the 

 horse to lie down, which will relieve him very much. 

 Indeed, so much is this the case, that it has been recom- 

 mended that every foundered horse should be forcibly 

 thrown and kept down, till the active stage of the dis- 

 ease has passed off. This, however, I do not advise, as 

 the horse is excited enough without increasing it by 

 throwing him from his feet. Rather give good bedding, 

 and the majority of horses so affected will be ready and 

 willing to lie down of their own accord. After the place 

 is all fixed, and the horse moved into it, give him twenty 

 drops of the tincture of aconite root in a cupful of cold 

 water poured into the mouth with a bottle having a 

 strong neck. Repeat the dose every four hours, till six 

 to eight doses have been given. Apply cold ice water 

 cloths to the feet. In a few hours, possibly, the shoes 

 can be taken off. At first, this generally canfeot be 

 done, except the animal is down. Care should be taken 

 in retoioving the shoes, so that every nail is made loose 

 before an attempt is made to pull off the shoes. Have 

 as little hammering on the foot as possible, as it will 

 shake the great and over-sensitive frame. Let the cold 

 water be kept constant for the first day, or until the 

 active pain gives way. At leisure, the feet can be pared 

 thin on the soles, so they will yield to pressure with the 

 fingers. By gating the animal to lie down as soon as 

 possible after he gets in, the cold water cloths applied, 

 and the aconite given, the animal in a day or two may 



