407 



feet are simultaneously raised from the ground (the hind ones sustain- 

 ing the weight), then advanced a short distance and carefully replaced, 

 while at almost the same moment the hind ones are quickly shuffled 

 forward near to the center of gravitation. 



In other instances one foot at a time is advanced and placed with the 

 heel upon the grouud in the same careful manner, all causes of concus- 

 sion being carefully avoided. In attempting to back- the animal he is 

 found to be almost stationary, simply swaying the body back on the 

 haunches and elevating the toes of the diseased feet as they rest upon 

 their heels. In attempting to turn either to the right or left he allows 

 his head to be drawn to the one side to its full extent before moviug, 

 then makes his hind feet the axis around which ther forward ones de- 

 scribe a shuffling circle. 



In a majority of cases of laminitis in the fore feet the animal persists 

 in standing until he is nearly recovered. In other cases he as persist- 

 ently lies, standing only when necessity seems to compel it, and then 

 for as short a time as possible. If the recumbent position is once as- 

 sumed the relief experienced from a removal of the weight of the body 

 off the inflamed tissues tempts the patient to seek it again, and so we 

 often find him down a greater part of the time. But this is not true of 

 all cases, for sometimes he will make the experiment, then cautiously 

 guard against a repetition. Even in those cases of enforced recumbency, 

 he ofttimes takes advantage of the first opportunity and gets upon his 

 feet, doggedly remaining there until again laid upon his side by his 

 attendants. How to explain this diversity of action I do not know, for 

 theoretically the recumbent position is the only appropriate one, except 

 when complications exist, and the one which should give the most com- 

 fort, yet it is rejected by very many patients and no doubt for some 

 good reason. It has been suggested as an explanation tliat when the 

 animal gets upon his feet after lying for a time the suffering is so greatly 

 augmented that the memory of this experience deters him from an 

 attempted repetition. If this were true, the horse with the first attack 

 of this disease must necessarily make the experiment before knowing 

 the after effects of lying down, yet many remain standing without even 

 an attempt at gaining this experimental knowledge. 



The most favored position of the animal when down is on the broad- 

 side, with the feet and legs extending. While in this position the gen- 

 eral symptoms greatly subside; the respirations and pulse become 

 almost normal ; the temperature falls and the perspiration dries. It is 

 mostly with difficulty that he is made to rise, and when he attempts it 

 gets up rapidly and " all in a heap," as it were, shifting quickly from 

 one to the other foot until they become accustomed again to the weight 

 thrown upon them. Occasionally a patient will get up like a cow, rising 

 upon the hind feet first. Although enforced exercise relieves to some 

 extent the soreness, it is but temporary, for after a few minutes' rest it 

 returns again with all its former severity. 



