406 



specific gravity, owing to the water from the system being eliminated 

 by the skin instead of the kidneys. The appetite is impaired and some- 

 times entirely lost, while the thirst is greatly increased. The affected 

 feet are hot and dry to the touch. They are relieved as much as possi- 

 ble from bearing weight. Rapping them with a hammer or compelling 

 the animal to stand upon one aff'ected member causes intense pain, 

 while the artery at the fetlock throbs beneath the finger. 



Special symptoms. — Liability to affection varies in the different feet 

 according to the exciting cause. Any one or more of the feet may be- 

 come the subject of this disease, although it appears more often in the 

 fore feet than in the hind ones, a fact owing to the difference of func- 

 tion, i. e., that the fore feet are the basis of the columns of support, re- 

 ceiving nearly all the body weight during progression and consequently 

 most of the concussion, while the hind feet at such times becomes sim- 

 ply the fulcra of the levers of progression, and are almost exempt from 

 concussion. 



One foot. — Injuries and excessive functional performance are the 

 causes of the disease in only one foot; here the general symptoms as a 

 rule are not severe, there often being no loss of appetite and no unusual 

 thirst, while the pulse, temperature and respiration remain about nor- 

 mal. In these instances the weight of the body is early thrown upon 

 the opposite foot and the affected one is extended, repeatedly raised 

 from the fioor and then carefully replaced. When made to move for- 

 ward the lame foot is either carried in the air while progression is ac- 

 complished by hopi)ing with the healthy one, or else the heel of the first 

 is placed upon the ground and receives the little weight thrown upon 

 it while the sound limb is quickly advanced. Progression in a straight 

 line is much more easily accomplished than in turning toward the lame 

 side. 



Both fore feet. — When both fore feet are affected the symptoms are 

 well marked. The lameness is excessive and the animal almost im- 

 movable. When standing the head hangs low down, or rests upon the 

 manger as a means of support and to relieve the feet ; the fore feet are 

 well extended so that the weight is thrown upon the heels, where the 

 tissues are least sensitive, least inflamed, and most capable of relief 

 from free effusion. The hind feet are brought forward beneath the 

 body to receive as much weight as possible, thereby relieving the dis- 

 eased ones. If progression is attempted, which rarely happens volun- 

 tarily during the first three or four days, it is accomplished with very 

 great pain and lameness at the starting, which usually subsides to an ex- 

 tent after a few minutes' exercise. Duriug this exercise, if the animal 

 happens to step upon a small stone or other hard substance, he stumbles 

 painfully on the other foot and is excessively lame in the offended 

 member for a number of steps, owing to the acute pain which pressure 

 upon the sole causes in the tissues beneath. The manner of thQ pro- 

 gression is pathognomonic of the complaint. Sometimes the affected 



