46 SPECIAL EQUINE THERAPY 



thinned area is literally soaked with pure tincture of 

 iodin. It is to be painted on with a small brush, going 

 over the area again and again, until the horn refuses to 

 absorb any more of it. This means at least an ounce to 

 each foot, and the application is to be repeated every 

 twelve hours in a similar manner. Unless the case is 

 more than ordinarily severe, two or three of these appli- 

 cations will free the animal from all acute pain. The 

 temperature comes to normal and the patient resumes a 

 normal condition more rapidly than with any other treat- 

 ment. The only improvement that I could suggest in this 

 treatment would be to rasp down the entire wall, from 

 ground surface to coronet, and then soak the feet in a 

 tub of tincture of iodin. If I ever meet with a case of 

 laminitis in a horse whose value would justify such a pro- 

 ceeding, I shall try it. I believe that the effect would be 

 marvelous. 



I use in every ease of laminitis a daily cathartic dose of 

 arecolin. Where this is impractical I use an aloes ball. 

 In addition to this, every one of my laminitis patients gets 

 a moderate dose of sulpho-carbolates compound three 

 times a day for two or three days. With such treatment 

 I do not find it a rare thing to see many of my eases ready 

 for work in a week. 



When, for any reason, the rasping and iodin applica- 

 tions can not be made, I resort to water. Hot water con- 

 stantly applied often gives marvelous results. After 

 wrapping the feet thickly with burlap, I see to it that 

 some one soaks the burlap every hour with hot water. 

 This is the only practical and a very humane method of 

 water cure. To resort to the use of the soaking tub is 

 unpardonable in this disease. 



Encourage the patient to assume the recumbent posi- 

 tion by providing it with a deeply bedded box stall. In- 

 struct the attendants to make it possible for the subject 



