THE HORSE IN SICKNESS AND DISEASE 403 



rubbing, he is put up to his knees in straw, or his legs are 

 immersed in warm water. Is it not reasonable to expect 

 that fever in the feet will follow this sudden change of 

 temperature ? In other cases there may be a metastasis, or 

 change, of the place of inflammation. The animal is recover- 

 ing from inflammation of the lungs, and suddenly the feet 

 are attacked, and that without any fault of the surgeon or 

 the groom. 



Infiain'mation of the laonince can scarcely be mistaken. 

 The horse is continually shifting his posture, yet without 

 violent action. The feet are constantly moving ; but they 

 are moved as gently as possible. When the hand is passed 

 down to them, the heat of the feet is evident enough. 

 Generally, however, the horse, tired of shifting his place, 

 and yet retaining the pain, lies down, and can with difficulty 

 be induced to rise again. All the characteristics of general 

 inflammation are exhibited. The pulse is hard and fast ; 

 the breathing sharp and quick ; the skin harsh ; the mouth 

 hot ; and the ears cold. But there are also signs which 

 indicate the seat of the disease ; for, besides the hoofs being 

 unnaturally hot, the arteries of the legs throb, while the 

 horse often points to his feet as the seat of pain by looking 

 at them, and resting his muzzle upon them. 



The Treatment of inflammation of the feet must be 

 prompt. 



Other inflammations may possibl}^ to a certain degree, 

 brook delay; but here not a moment is to be lost. The 

 inflammation must, if possible, be made to terminate in 

 " resolution " ; for, if the next process, and in some inflam- 

 mations a salutary one, commences — if pus is thrown out 

 within the foot — the hoof will inevitably come oflT. 



Without a moment's delay the horse must be bled, taking 

 blood from the toe ; but it is not always safe to wound a 

 part during the existence of acute inflammation within it. 

 The jugular may in that case be opened, and the stream 

 allowed to flow till the pulse falters. If in five or six 

 hours the pulse regains its inflammatory character, the 

 coronet may be punctured in several places. A third 

 bleeding, but of a local character, may be justiflable ; yet 

 it should be remembered that such excessive depletion 

 retards the recovery, although it may check the primary 

 disease. 



A full dose of physic should be administered ; and 



