411 



just censure for a condition of affairs he could neither foresee nor pre- 

 vent. 



The larainitic process also occasionally extends to the covering of the 

 coronet bone, or at least concurrent with and subsequent to lamiuitis 

 the development of " low ringbone " is seen, and it is apparently de- 

 pendent upon the disease of the lamina) for its exciting cause. The 

 impairment of function and consequent symptoms are much less marked 

 here than in sidebones. The coronet remains hot and sensitive and 

 somewhat thickened after the laminitis subsides, and a little lameness 

 is present. This lameness persists and the deposits of new bone may 

 readily be detected. 



Suppuration of the sensitive membrane is a somewhat common com- 

 plication, and even when present in its most limited form is always a 

 serious matter; but when it becomes extensive, and especially where 

 the suppurative process extends to the periosteum, the results are apt 

 to be fatal. When suppuration occurs the exudation does not appear 

 •to be excessive, but is rich in leucocytes and seems to have caused a 

 detachment of the sensitive tissues from the horn prior to the forma- 

 tion of pus in some instances, while in others the tissues are still at- 

 tached to the horn and the suppuration takes place in the deeper tis- 

 sues. 



Limited suppuration may take place in any part of the sensitive tis- 

 sues of the foot during laminitis, and may ultimately be reabsorbed 

 instead of being discharged upon the surface, but generally the process 

 begins in the neighborhood of the toe and spreads backward and up- 

 ward towards the coronet, where it is seen separating the horn from 

 the coronary band at the quarters. At the same time it is spreading 

 over the sole and eventually the entire hoof is loosened and finally 

 sloughs away, leaving the tissues beneath entirely unprotected. 



In other instances, and these are generally the cases not considered 

 unusually severe, the suppuration begins at the coronary band. The 

 suppuration extends but a short distance in the tissue, yet serves to 

 destroy the patient by separating the hoof from the coronary baud upon 

 which it depends for support and growth. lu this form of the suppura- 

 tive process it is usually seen beginning in front, for it is this part of 

 the coronary band that is always most actively affected with inflamma- 

 tion, and consequently it is here that impairments first occur. Suppura- 

 tion of the sensitive sole is more common than of the sensitive laminae 

 and coronary baud. It is present in the majority of cases where there 

 is a dropping of the coffin bone, and in other instances where the effu- 

 sion at this point is so great as to arrest the production of horn and un- 

 cover the sensitive tissues. Except when the result of injury it begins 

 at the toe and spreads backward, and if not relieved by opening the sole 

 escapes at the heel. Suppuration of the sole is much less serious than 

 where present in other parts of the foot. 

 If the acute constitutioual symptoms developed from this sloughing 



