406 THE HORSE. 



placed in a pail of warm water, but when the operation is prop.erlj 

 performed there is never any difficulty in obtaining any quantity 

 of blood which may be required. Next tack the shoes on lightly 

 again, and then give a smart dose of physic, or else, what is per- 

 haps a better plan, give the following: — 



Take of Barbadoes Aloes 



Tartar Emetic, of each 1 drachm. 



Powdered Digitalis ^ drachm. 



Syrup enough to form a ball, 



which should be given every six hours, until the bowels act, when 

 the other materials may be continued without the aloes. The feet 

 should be kept constantly wet and cool by tying a piece of felt or 

 flannel around each pastern, and allowing it to fall over the hoof, 

 when it is to be continually wetted. If the inflammation is not 

 abated next day, the bleeding may be repeated, and it will be well 

 also to act on the kidneys by adding two or three drachms of nitre 

 to the tartar emetic and digitalis. 



Chronic laminitis is generally first shown by a slight soreness 

 or lameness, generally appearing in both fore feet, and, therefore, 

 being often overlooked by casual observers. In coming in from 

 work the coronets feel warmer than natural ; but this goes off" dur- 

 ing the night, and, for a time, no great fears are entertained of the 

 feet recovering their former condition, the blame being, perhaps, 

 laid upon the shoe. In a month or two, however, the smith (who 

 has, perhaps, been ordered to take off" the shoes two or three times, 

 by which the injury is increased) finds that his nails do not hold, 

 and the quarters break away ; while the action of the horse be- 

 comes more shambling every day, and he cannot make a sound trot 

 on any hard road, especialli/ ivith a loeight on his back. In many 

 cases a horse with chronic laminitis can run in hand sound enough 

 for an ordinary observer ; but when the extra weight of a rider is 

 placed on him the feet cannot bear the pain, and the gait is sham- 

 bling in the extreme. Such animals have a strong propensity to 

 save their toes, and prefer (if their shoulders will allow it) bring- 

 ing their heels to the ground first, so that, although their action is 

 excessively low and shambling, they seldom fall. An experienced 

 horseman at once detects this peculiar style of going, and con- 

 demns its possessor for laminitis. Indeed, it may be assumed as a 

 rule, that wherever the heel is put carefully down upon the ground 

 with low action, the foot is the subject of laminitis to some extent. 

 When the heel is naturally brought to the ground first, the knee 

 is well bent, and the foot is raised high in the air ; but in process 

 of time work tells on it, the laminae become inflamed, and then the 

 action is reduced in height, and the feet are moved in the manner 

 peculiar to foundered horses, including those which before they 

 were foundered perhaps exhibited " toe action,'' or, at all events, 



