408 



Both hi7id feet. —When only both hind feet are affected, they are, while 

 standing, maintained in the same position as when only the fore ones 

 arc the subjects of the disease, bat with an entirely different object in 

 view. Instead of being here to receive weight, they are so advanced in 

 that the heels may receive whatever weight is, from necessity, imposed 

 on them, the fore feet being at the same time placed well back beneath 

 the body, where they become the main supports, the animal standing, 

 as Williams describes it, " all of a heap." 



Progression is even more difficult now than when the disease is con- 

 fined to the anterior extremities. The fore feet are dubiously advanced- 

 a short distance and the hind ones are then brought forward with a 

 kind of a kangaroo hop, which results in an apparent loss of equilibrium 

 which the animal is a few moments in regaining. The general symp- 

 toms, or in other words the degree of suffering, seem more severe in these 

 cases than where the disease affects the fore feet alone. Tlie standing 

 position is not often maintained, the patient seeking relief in recum- 

 bency. This fact is easily understood when we consider how cramped 

 and unnatural is the position he assumes while standing, and if it were 

 maintained for any considerable length of time would no doubt excite 

 the disease in the fore feet, as explained by D'Arbovul. 



All four feet. — Laminitis of all four feet is but uncommonly met with. 

 The author has seen but three such cases. In all these the position as- 

 sumed was nearly normal, all the feet being slightly advanced, and first 

 one then another momentarily raised from the ground and carefully re- 

 placed, this action being kept up almost continually during the time 

 the animal remained standing. The suffering in these cases is most 

 acute, the appetite is lost, and although the patient lies most of the 

 time the temperature remains too high ; the pulse and respirations are 

 greatly accelerated, the body covered with sweat, and bed sores are 

 unpleasant accompaniments. 



Course. — The course which laminitis takes varies greatly in different 

 cases, being influenced more or less by the exciting cause, the animal's 

 previous condition, the acuteness of the attack, and the subsequent 

 treatment. The first symi)toms rarely exhibit themselves while the an- 

 imal is at his work, although we will occasionally see the gait im])aired 

 by stumbliug, the body covered with a profuse sweat, and the respira- 

 tion become blowing in character as i)remouitious of the oncoming dis- 

 ease, but as a rule nothing is noted amiss with the animal until he has 

 stood for some time after coming in from work, when, in attempting to 

 move him, he is found very stiff. Like all congestions the early symp- 

 toms usually develop rapidly, yet this is not always the case, for in 

 some instances there ai)pearK to be no well defined period of congestion, 

 the disease seemingly commencing at a point and gradually spreading 

 until a large territory is involved in tlie morbid process. 



Simple congestion. — Those cases of simple congestion of the laminae, 

 which we erroneously call laminitis, are rai^idly developed, the symp- 



