ACUTE LAMINITIS. 197 



count be given any corn. If lie is in any way constipated or 

 even if his dung is in a natural condition, it would, as a rule, 

 be well to give him a pint of linseed oil, and to assist the effect 

 of this mild laxative with an enema (p. 632) or two of a gallon 

 of lukewarm water. If diarrhoea is present, he should get neither 

 a purgative nor an astringent. The shoes should be removed, and 

 if the wall is high, it should be lowered, so as to put pressure on 

 the sole and frog; but the sole should on no account be pared. 

 Three or four ounces of bicarbonate of soda may be given daily 

 with advantage in bran mashes, supposing that green food is not 

 available, or in the drinking water, or in two or three drenches. 



The treatment of a severe attack, whether it comes on suddenly, 

 or is the result of neglect, is generally very unsatisfactory; hence 

 the difference in the views which are entertained respecting its 

 nature. In addition to the curative measures just described, it is 

 advisable, as recommended by Cagny and Gobert, to remove from 4 

 to 8 quarts of blood from the jugular vein; but bleeding from the 

 coronet or toe should not be done, because these operations are 

 liable to injuriously interfere with the local circulation. 



Aloes as a purgative does not, as a rule, act well, apparently 

 because it irritates the mucous membrane of the intestines, 

 with which the secreting membrane of the foot is in close 

 sympathy. As a purgative, a subcutaneous or intratracheal in- 

 jection of eserine and pilocarpine (p. 609) is far preferable to aloes. 



The best local treatment is walking the horse through cold 

 water; or, if this cannot be done, standing him in cold water. 

 Standing him in warm water or poulticing the feet has a bad 

 effect in promoting congestion. During the intervals, allow the 

 horse to lie down as much as possible. If he will not do so of 

 his own accord, throw him gently (p. 641). The advisability of 

 doing this is shown by the pulse, after the horse is down, always 

 falling in a marked manner. After some days, when convalescence 

 sets in, use Broad's shoes, which are " extremely stout, wide-webbed, 

 and long bar shoes, made from iron about twice the ordinary thick- 

 ness of those of the particular animal under treatment ; make them 

 gradually thin from behind the quarter, so that the heel part of the 

 shoes may be as wide and thin as possible, and fitted rocker fashion 

 to allow the weight of the horse to be on that part; put them on 

 with leather soles, using only sufficient nails to ensure their staying 

 on " {Broad). 



French veterinary surgeons advise that after the horse has been 

 made to lie down, the foot should be lowered, and the sole pared 

 thin, so as to allow of expansion ; and in the event of an accumula- 

 tion of blood, exudation, or pus being suspected within the foot, 

 that an excavation for its liberation should be made at the toe, 



