62 HORSES. 



Causes. — These are several and not always discoverable. 

 The acute form comes on in horses too well fed and 

 insufficiently exercised, and then suddenly called upon to do 

 fast work. 



As it is often mistaken for injury to the back it may be well 

 to briefly describe the symptoms common to both forms., only it 

 will be understood by the reader that in the acute attack the 

 symptoms are much more pronounced. 



The animal that appeared to be in health at bedding-up 

 time is found next morning to be unable to move or get across 

 the stall, he leans back so as to put all the weight he can on his 

 heels, at the same time getting his hind feet as far under him 

 as possible. Although these may share the attack, they never 

 suffer so much as the front ones, which at all times support 

 more of the animal's w^eight. 



He may be "blowing," but it is wdth pain and not from 

 any chest disease. 



His face is anxious, his appetite gone. He stands as if his 

 spine were all in one piece. 



Treatment. — Envelop the feet with poultices of w^arm bran 

 and linseed of equal proportions. Some say, give a dose of 

 physic. That such treatment is quicker in its effect is undoubted, 

 but there is an apparently well-founded belief that chest or 

 bow^el complaint is more likely to follow. 



With abatement of the early or worst symptoms and 

 with discontinuance of the poultices, the Elliman's can be 

 substituted with great advantage. An application around the 

 coronet daily will draw out the inflammation and tend to prevent 

 those subsequent changes of structure within the foot, which 

 end in a "dropped" sole, and indicates " Chronic Laminitis." 



A turn out on marshy land is to be recommended. 



Special shoeing is desirable, and the best farrier should be 

 sought. 



THRUSH 

 is a disease of the frog, brought about by standing in wet 

 and dirty stables. It is sometimes hereditary. 



