188 TREATMENT OF DISEASES. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE FEET 



is caused by hunting, or hard riding, or driving over 

 stony ground ; by severe training, particularly if the 

 course is hard ; by washing the feet in cold water 

 whilst hot, or, vice versa ; when in a high latitude, by 

 putting the horse into a hot stable, and bedding the 

 feet up in deep hot grass the instant of return from 

 the cold air ; or, by inflammation being transferred 

 from the lungs, or any other organ, to the feet. The 

 two fore-feet only are generally attacked, but some- 

 times all four. 



Symptoms. The pulse becomes greatly increased ; 

 the inside of the nostrils red ; and the countenance 

 distressed, as in other inflammation ; but the horse 

 is here evidently very uneasy on his legs, and when 

 he lies down the muzzle is often rested directly on the 

 affected feet, which are always found intensely hot ; 

 and the arteries on the sides of the pastern throbbing 

 distinctly. These last symptoms are what we are 

 told to rely on, as the distinguishing marks of this 

 complaint. He occasionally breaks out into a sweat, 

 but never attempts to paw with his feet, or to kick at 

 his belly ; and when down, though he may groan quite 

 as much as when any of the previously mentioned vi- 

 tal organs are the seat of attack, yet he never rolls. 

 Under any other inflammations also that had existed 

 only an hour or two, the horse would be able to walk 

 without exhibiting any pain in the extremities ; but 

 in this, the fore-feet are lifted up and put down again, 



over the loins, strewing over flocks of short tow immediately it is on. This 

 will stick fast for six weeks, or two months ; during which time the horse 

 must be well walked ; but not mounted. 



