CHAPTER VIL 



Diseases of the Foot. 



The diseases of the feet in horses are more numerous, 

 and of a more complex nature than the Inexperienced 

 can have any idea of. The structure of the foot is 

 very compHcated, and having to sustain the weight 

 of so heavy an animal, besides being exposed to the 

 chances of many injuries, a knowledge of these is of 

 paramount importance, both as regards the safety 

 of the proprietor and the intrinsic value of the animal. 

 When, therefore, we arrive at the anatomical descrip- 

 tion of the horse, we shall dwell at some length upon 

 the structure of the foot as well as of the pastern. 



ACUTE FOUNDER. 



Inflammation of the foot has been denominated 

 ''acute founder." It is the cause of many other 

 diseases, and is more or less connected with them 

 all. 



Inflammation of the sensible lamellae, or fleshy 

 plates on the front and sides of the coffin-bone, is 

 the cause of acute founder. These lamellae are 

 thickly intersected with blood-vessels, like every other 

 vascular part ; and, consequently, from their exposure 

 to violent and long-continued action, they are elon- 

 gated and strained, more especially when the hoofs 

 have been subjected to a day's journey on a hard 

 road. It is easy to imagine that if, after the feet 



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