*0 THE DISEASES OP HORSES, 



mixture of Friar's balsam and camphorated oil should be pushed in, but in 

 Buch a way as to be easily pulled out, the place cleaned, and a fresh piece 

 put in. Barbadoes tar, which is semi-fluid, may be used instead of the 

 Friar's balsam and camphorated oil. It is sometimes necessary in very 

 bad cases to bleed from the toe ; but this need not be done except when 

 there is considerable local inflammation shown by the increased heat of 

 the surrounding parts. When this is done put the foot into a bucket of 

 water as warm as the horse can bear it, that the bleeding may be free, and 

 the remedy quick and effectual, and in such a case it is good practice 

 to give a few mashes and a mild dose of physic. 



Toot Founder, Fever in tlie Feet, or Laminitis.— This disease 

 is almost entirely confined to the foro feet ; instances of all the feot being 

 affected are of very rare occurrence, and even of the fore feet it often 

 happens that only one is attacked. This local inflammation occasionally 

 follows on the abatement of a more general inflammation, as of the lungs 

 or bowels, and may also be produced by engorgement of tho stomach with 

 food of a heating nature. The most general cause, however, is the injudi- 

 cious treatment of the horse by his rider or driver— over-exertion, and 

 especially long and fast travelling on hard roads, particularly when the 

 animal is brought home exhausted; therefore, on long journeys, and 

 indeed, at all times, on hard roads in dry weather, extra care should bo 

 taken. The horse seized with fever in the feet may be left apparently 

 all right at night, and the next morning found suffering intensely, as 

 evidenced by his fidgety manner and frequent shiftings of the fore feet, 

 which he throws out as far as possible, drawing the hind feet under him, 

 that they may bear tho weight of his body and relieve the affected fore 

 feet, the fever or inflammation in which are evidently causing the poor 

 bea3t excessive agony. If tho feet are felt, the great unnatural heat of 

 inflammation will at once be observed, and tho arteries above may be felt 

 throbbing violently. 



The first thing to be done is the removal of the shoes, with as little fuss 

 and pain to the animal as possible, for the sensitive part of the foot 

 between the hoof and bone being in an inflamed state, the foot is very 

 tender, and any rough handling causes exquisite and unnecessary pain. 

 This may be better done if tho feet are soaked an hour or two in warm 

 water. On the shoes being removed, blood may be taken from tho toe, and 

 large poultices of bran or boiled turnips kept constantly applied ; if hot 

 poultices are used the heat should bo kept up by frequently pouring over 

 them fresh supplies of hot water. If cold poultices or lotions, the colder 

 they are kept the better; and as they soon get hot against the inflamed 

 surface, some of the cooling lotion (p. 9) should be used freely round tho 

 legs and poured over the poultice, or about 2oz. each of powdered sal 

 ammoniac and saltpetre or common salt, dissolved in a bucket of water, 

 maybe similarly used. The horse should have gruel to drink, and his food 

 consist of green food, mashes, &c. Of medicine, loz. of nitre a day may 

 bo given in his drink, and some of the fever medicine, a recipe for which 



