419 



as i^ossible from bearing weight. Rapping them with a hammer or 

 compelling tlie animal to stand uj)on one atfected member causes 

 intense pain, while the artery at the fetlock throbs beneath the finger. 



Special symptoms. — Liabilitj* to affection varies in the different feet 

 according to the exciting cause. Any one or more of the feet may 

 become the subject of this disease, although it appears more often in 

 the fore feet than in the hind ones, a fact owing to the difference of 

 function, /. e., that the fore feet are the basis of the columns of sup- 

 port, receiving nearly all the body weight during progression and con- 

 sequently most of the concussion, while the hind feet at such times 

 become simply the fulcra of the levers of progression, and arc almost 

 exempt from concussion. 



One foot. — Injuries and excessive functional performance are the 

 causes of the disease in only one foot; here the general symptoms as 

 a rule are not severe, there often being no loss of appetite and no 

 unusual thirst, while the pulse, temperature, and respiration remain 

 about normal. In these instances the weight of the body is early 

 thrown upon the opposite foot and the affected one is extended, 

 repeatedly raised from the floor and then carefully replaced. When 

 made to move forward the lame foot is either carried in the air while 

 progression is accomplished by hopping with the health}^ one, or else 

 the heel of the first is placed upon the ground and receives the little 

 weight thrown upon it while the sound limb is quickly advanced. 

 Progression in a straight line is much more easily accomi^lished than 

 in turning toward the lame side. 



Both fore feet. — When both fore feet are affected the symptoms are 

 well marked. Tlie lameness is excessive and the animal almost 

 immovable. When standing the head hangs low down, or rests upon 

 the manger as a means of supix>rt and to relieve the feet; the fore 

 feet are well extended so that the weight is thrown upon the heels, 

 where the tissues are least sensitive, least inflamed, and most capable 

 of relief from free effusion. The hind feet are brought forward 

 beneath the body to receive as much weight as possible, thereby 

 relieving the diseased ones. If progression is attempted, Avhich rarely 

 happens voluntarily during the first three or four days, it is accom- 

 plished with very great pain and lameness at the starting, which 

 usually subsides to an extent after a few minutes' exercise. During 

 this exercise, if the animal hai^pens to step upon a small stone or 

 other hard sul)stance, he stumbles painfully on the other foot and is 

 excessively lame in the offended member for a number of steps, owing 

 to the acute pain which pressure upon the sole causes in the tissues 

 beneath. The manner of the progression is pathognomonic of the 

 comj)laint. Sometimes the affected feet are simultaneously raised 

 from the ground (the hind ones sustaining the weight), then advanced 

 a short distance and carefully replaced, while at almost the same 

 moment the hind ones are quickly shuffled forward near to the center 

 of gravitation. 



