272 INFLAMMATION OF THE LAMINA. 



be clothed — a sheep's skin placed upon the loins. 

 Even if the horse will eat, only a few spare bran-mashes 

 should be allowed ; but whitened water or thin gruel 

 ought to be constantly before him. 



When the acute symptoms abate, the coronets and 

 legs may be blistered ; but this ought not to be done 

 until the acute stage has passed. The entire leg 

 should not however be subjected to the vesicatory, 

 for after laminitis we desire the effects of the blister 

 should last some time. Therefore, blister the outsides 

 first, and the effect having ceased, blister the insides of 

 the legs, and thus for any time the counter-irritating 

 action may be kept up. 



The practitioner will carefully look out for the worst 

 symptoms, as well as those of amendment. When 

 separation begins to take place at the coronet, between 

 the hoof and the hair, it indicates that the process of 

 suppuration is established by exudation. It will be 

 useless further to punish the horse ; but some relief 

 may be obtained by surrounding the feet with poul- 

 tices. Another hoof will in process of time be pro- 

 duced; but it will be smaller and weaker than the 

 first, and more liable to accidents. 



It is seldom that intense inflammation of any kind 

 terminates without effecting some change of structure. 

 Disunion to a very considerable extent between the 

 horny and fleshy laminae is a frequent consequence ; 

 and the result of that is, that the coffin-bone is no 

 longer retained in its place ; but sinks backwards and 

 downwards. A malformation which no surgery can 

 remove is the result. The sharp edge of the coffin- 

 bone rests upon the sole, and often pierces through it. 



