418 DISEASES OP THE HORSE. 



rhea, or it may appear later as the result of the medicines used. The 

 urine is high colored, scant in quantity, and of increased specific 

 gravity, owing to the water being eliminated by the skin instead of 

 the kidneys. The appetite is impaired, sometimes entirely lost, but 

 thirst is greatly increased. The affected feet are hot and dry, and 

 are relieved as much as possible from bearing weight. Rapping them 

 with a hammer, or compelling the animal to stand upon one affected 

 member, causes intense pain. The artery at the fetlock throbs 

 beneath the finger. 



Special symptoms. — Liability 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. This is due to tne difference 

 of function, ^. e., that the fore feet are the bases of the columns of 

 support, receiving nearly all of the body weight during progression 

 and consequently most of the concussion, while the hind feet become 

 simply the fulcra of the levers of progression, and are almost exempt 

 from concussion. 



One foot. — Injuries and excessive functional performance are the 

 causes of the disease in only one foot. The general symptoms, as a 

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

 sual thirst, while the pulse, temperature, and respiration remain about 

 normal. 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 healthy one, or else the heel of the first is placed 

 upon the ground and receives little weight while the sound limb is 

 quickly advanced. Progression in a straight line is more easy than 

 turning toward the lame side. 



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

 well marked. The lameness is excessive and the animal almost im- 

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

 manger as a means of support 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 by 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, which rarely happens 

 voluntarily during the first three or four days, it is accomplished 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 happens to step upon a small stone or other hard substance, 

 he stumbles painfully and is excessively lame in the offended member 

 for a number of steps, owing to the acute pain which pressure upon 



