268 DISEASES OF THE HORSE’S FOOT © 
then, in addition to the conditicn we have described as 
suppuration, we may meet with one or other of the follow- 
ing complications : 
(a) Metastatic Pnewmonia.—This complication is not un- 
common, and, when occurring, more often than not ends 
fatally. It may be accounted for indirectly by the greater 
work the lungs are called upon to perform in carrying out 
the increased number of respirations occasioned by the 
general fever and pain, and directly by the poisonous 
materials circulating in the blood-stream. 
(b) Metastatic Colic.—This may be either a subacute 
obstruction of the bowel or an enteritis accompanied by an 
offensive purge. 
A striking case of the former is related in the Veterinary 
Journal (vol. xvi., p. 180) by H. Thompson, of Aspatria. 
Here no evacuation of the bowels occurred for three days, 
and the pains of laminitis were added to by the usual pains 
of intestinal obstruction. 
The colic of enteritis is in some cases caused by the 
nature of the food, giving rise to laminitis. In our opinion, 
however, it is more often occasioned by the drastic action 
of the aloes nearly always resorted to in the treatment of 
the disorder. As does the pneumonia, the enteritis thus 
brought about nearly always has a fatal termination. 
(c) Gangrene of the Structures within the Hoof.—This com- 
plication is the one most to be dreaded. It occurs as a 
result of the great pressure exerted by an excessive exuda- 
tion, and doubtless affects first the lamine and softer 
structures. Once commenced, however, it rapidly extends 
to death of the other structures (ligament, tendon, and 
even bone), and gives a fatal ending to the case. 
That gangrene of the tissues (‘ mortification” as our 
older writers called it) has occurred is soon made evident 
to the veterinarian by the symptoms shown by the patient. 
The agonizingly acute pains suddenly subside, the feet are 
placed firmly and squarely to the ground, and the animal 
walks with ease. Perhaps but the night before the patient 
is seen racked with excruciating pain; the morning sees 
