268 DISEASES OF THE HORSE'S FOOT 



then, in addition to the condition we have described as 

 suppuration, we may meet with one or other of the follow- 

 ing complications : 



{a) Metastatic Pneumonia. — This complication is not un- 

 common, and, when occurring, more often than not ends 

 fatally. It may be accounted for indirectly by the greater 

 work the kings are called upon to perform in carrying out 

 the increased number of respirations occasioned by the 

 general fever and pain, and directly hy the poisonous 

 materials circulating in the blood-stream. 



{h) Metastatic Colic. — This may be either a subacute 

 obstruction of the bowel or an enteritis accompanied by an 

 offensive purge. 



A striking case of the former is related in the Veterinary 

 Journal (vol. xvi., p. 180) by H. Thompson, of Aspatria. 

 Here no evacuation of the bowels occurred for three days, 

 and the pains of laminitis were added to by the usual pains 

 of intestinal obstruction. 



The colic of enteritis is in some cases caused by the 

 nature of the food, giving rise to laminitis. In our opinion, 

 however, it is more often occasioned by the drastic action 

 of the aloes nearly always resorted to in the treatment of 

 the disorder. As does the pneumonia, the enteritis thus 

 brought about nearly always has a fatal termination. 



(c) Gangrene of the Structures ivitliin the Hoof. — This com- 

 plication is the one most to be dreaded. It occurs as a 

 result of the great pressure exerted by an excessive exuda- 

 tion, and doubtless affects first the laminae and softer 

 structures. Once commenced, however, it rapidly extends 

 to death of the other structures (ligament, tendon, and 

 even bone), and gives a fatal ending to the case. 



That gangrene of the tissues (" mortification " as our 

 older writers called it) has occurred is soon made evident 

 to the veterinarian by the symptoms shown by the patient. 

 The agonizingly acute pains suddenly subside, the feet are 

 placed firmly and squarely to the ground, and the animal 

 walks with ease. Perhaps but the night before the patient 

 is seen racked with excruciating pain ; the morning sees 



