416 



should be used until the excitemeut and exbaustion of tlie labor per- 

 formed have entirely passed away. It is still better that all animals 

 coming in warm from work be " cooled out " by slow walking until the 

 perspiration has dried and the circulation and respiration returned to 

 the normal. Animals stopped on the road even for a few moments 

 time should always be protected from rapid change of temperature by 

 appropriate clothing. If it can be avoided horses that are working 

 should never be driven or ridden through a stream or pool of water. 

 Where necessary they should be cooled off before passing through, and 

 then kept exercising until completely dried. The same rule is to be ob- 

 served with regard to washing the legs in cold water when the animal 

 is just in from work, for, although it is practiced extensively and usually 

 with impunity, occasionally it proves the cause of a most acute attack 

 of this disease. Regarding shoeing as a predisposing cause, unusual 

 changes in the manner of applying the shoe should not be hastily made. 



If a plane shoe has been worn, high heels or toes must not be sub- 

 stituted at once, but the change, if necessary, should gradually be 

 made, so that the different tissues may adapt themselves to the change 

 of functional performance they are called upon to bear. If, on the other 

 hand, such changes are imiierative, as is sometimes the case, then the 

 work must be so reduced in quantity and quality that it can not prove ex- 

 citant of the disease. Laminitis from the effects of purgative medicines 

 is a condition which can scarcely be guarded against unless we discard 

 entirely this useful class of medicines. I can not determine from the 

 few cases in which I have seen this unhappy result of a purgative that 

 there are any conditions of the system jiresent that would warn us of 

 danger in this direction. The disease does not seem to have any de- 

 pendence for inception in such cases upon the size of the purgative, 

 the length of time before purgation begins, or the activity and severity 

 with which the remedy acts. Moderate doses of medicines kno^,u to 

 have unusual irritating effects on the alimentary canal should be used 

 only when necessity demands it. 



Experience alone will determine what animals are liable to suffer 

 from this disease through the influence of the different foods. When an 

 attack can with any certainty be ascribed to any particular food it 

 should ever be withheld unless in the smallest quantities. Horses that 

 have never been fed upon Indian corn should receive but a little at a 

 time at first, and always mixed with bran, oats, or other food, until it 

 has been determined that no danger exists. Corn is much more liable 

 to cause laminitis in warm than in cold weather, and for this reason it 

 should always be fed with care during spring and summer months. 



When an animal is excessively lame in one foot the other or opposite 

 member should have the shoe early removed and cold water frequently 

 applied. At the same time the slings should be used if the subject re- 

 mains standing. Horses should under no circumstances be overworked 5 

 to guard against this, i)revious work, nature of roads, state of weather, 

 and various other influences must be carefully noted. Watering while 



