420 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



thrown upon them. Occasionally a patient will get up like a cow, 

 rising upon the hind feet first. Although enforced exercise relieves 

 to some extent the soreness, it is but temporary, for after a few 

 minutes' rest it returns with all its former severity. 



Both hind feet. — ^^Hien only both hind feet are affected, they are, 

 while standing, maintained in the same position as when only the fore 

 ones are the subjects of the disease, but with an entirely different 

 object in view. Instead of being there to receive weight, they are so 

 advanced that the heels only may receive what little weight is neces- 

 sarily imposed on them; the fore feet at the same time are placed 

 well back beneath the body, where they become the main supports; 

 the animal standing, as Williams describes it, " all of a heap." 



Progression is even more difficult now than when the disease is 

 confined to the anterior extremities. The fore feet are dubiously 

 advanced a short distance and the hind ones brought forward with a 

 sort of kangaroo hop, that results in an apparent loss of equilibrium 

 which the animal is a few moments in regaining. The general symp- 

 toms, or, in other words, the degree of suffering, seem more severe 

 than where the disease affects the fore feet alone. The standing posi- 

 tion is not often maintained, the patient seeking relief in recumbency. 

 This fact is easily understood when we consider how cramped and 

 unnatural is the position he assumes while standing and, if it were 

 maintained for any considerable length of time, would, no doubt, 

 excite the disease in the fore feet, as explained by D'Arbbval. 



All four feet. — Laminitis of all four feet is but imcommonly met 

 with. The author has seen but three such cases. In all these the posi- 

 tion assumed was nearly normal. All the feet were slightly advanced, 

 and first one, then another, momentarily raised from the ground and 

 carefully replaced, this action being kept up almost continually dur- 

 ing the time the animal remained standing. The suffering is most 

 acute, the appetite lost, and, although the patient lies most of the time, 

 the temperature remains too high. The pulse and respirations are 

 greatly accelerated, the body covered with sweat, and bed sores are 

 unpleasant accompaniments. 



Course. — The course which laminitis takes varies greatly in differ- 

 ent cases, being influenced more or less by the exciting cause, the 

 animal's previous condition, the acuteness of the attack, and the sub- 

 sequent treatment. The first symptoms rarely exhibit themselves 

 while the animal is at his work, although we occasionally see the gait 

 impaired by stumbling, the body covered with a profuse sweat, and 

 the respirations become blowing in character as premonitions of the 

 oncoming disease ; but, as a rule, nothing is noted amiss with the ani- 

 mal until he has stood for some time after coming in from work, when, 

 in attempting to move him, he is found very stiff. Like all conges- 

 tions, the early symptoms usually develop rapidly; yet this is not 



