CHAPTER IX 
INFLAMMATORY AFFECTIONS OF THE KERATO- 
GENOUS APPARATUS 
A. ACUTE. 
Acute LamMInItIs. 
Definition.—The term ‘laminitis’ is used to indicate a 
spontaneous and diffuse inflammation of the whole of the 
sensitive structures of the foot, more particularly the sensi- 
tive lamine. Usually it occurs in the two front feet, often 
in all four, and occasionally in the hind alone. 
Causes.—In dealing with the causes of laminitis, we will 
first dispose of those coming under the heading of traumatic. 
Correctly speaking, however, lesions of the lamine thus 
occurring do not present the same symptoms, nor run an 
identical course with the disease we now purpose describing, 
and for which we would prefer to entirely reserve the term 
“laminitis.’ The fact, however, that traumatic causes are 
detailed in other works on the same subject compels us to 
give them mention here. 
Strictly traumatic causes giving rise to a limited inflamma- 
tion of the sensitive lamine are violent blows upon the foot, 
either purely accidental, or self-inflicted by violent kicking. 
A similar limited laminitis is to be found in the condi- 
tions we have described under ‘ Nail-bound and Punctured 
Foot.’ It is met with also in the injuries resulting from 
tread and overreach, and in the tissue-changes accompany- 
ing corn. 
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