INFLAMMATORY AFFECTIONS 259 



feeding, combined with only that amount of work which 

 the horse, if ordinarily fed, would be easily able to perform. 

 An excellent example of this is the laminitis occurring in 

 the Shire stallion when commencing his rounds of service 

 in the spring and early summer. At this season these 

 animals are constantly supplied with a more than sufficient 

 supply of a highly stimulating and nutritious diet. In this 

 case the blood is already in that state in which it is pre- 

 disposed to the disease. Add to this the unwonted exercise 

 — for during all the winter the animals are idle — and con- 

 gestion of the venous apparatus of the extremities is not to 

 be wondered at. 



Passing from these, the more common, we may consider 

 other and less frequent causes of the disease. Congestion 

 of the laminal blood-vessels and consequent laminitis occurs 

 when animals are made to maintain a standing position 

 for prolonged periods, as, for instance, when making sea 

 voyages. A long and painful disease of one foot, neces- 

 sitating the whole of the weight being borne by the other, 

 ends often in laminitis of the second member. It may 

 thus occur as a sequel to quittor, complicated sand-crack, 

 suppurating corn, and punctured wounds of the feet. 



Laminitis has also been known to occur as a result of 

 septic infection of the blood-stream consequent on the 

 operation of castration. (See recorded case, No. 2, p. 281.) 



A sudden lowering of the surface circulation at a time 

 when the animal is excessively perspiring is also said to 

 favour an attack, as also is the giving to drink of cold water 

 to an animal just in from a long and tiring journey. Also, 

 according to Zundel, ' the influence of the season cannot 

 be denied, and it is during the summer months that 

 laminitis is more frequent, while it is rare in winter, as 

 well as in the spring and autumn.' 



Further, laminitis has been described as occurring when 

 the animal is at grass, and when all causes — at any rate, 

 active ones — have appeared to be absent. (See reported 

 case. No. 3, p. 282.) 



Regarding heredity, we may safely say that, as a cause 



17—2 



