INFLAMMATORY AFFECTIONS * 271 
rendered hard and ivory-like (condensed) near what was the 
original centre, while the edges and other portions show 
often a tendency to become brittle and porous. 
Fig. 118 illustrates the effects of a severe ostitis in pedal 
bones removed from hoofs with laminitis of several weeks’ 
standing. 
(e) Chronic Laminitis.—The most common complication— 
or, perhaps, rather we should term it ‘ sequel’—to acute 
laminitis is the chronic form of the disease. For this 
condition we have reserved a separate section of our work. 
Tt will be found described in Section B 1 of this chapter. 
Diagnosis and Prognosis.—One is almost tempted to state 
that the diagnosis of laminitis offers no difficulty. In the 
very early stages, however, it may, as we have already 
indicated, be mistaken for the oncoming of Enteritis, 
Lymphangitis, or even Pneumonia. The paddling of the 
feet may help us. If this is absent, however, nothing but 
a most careful examination, or, if necessary, the withholding 
of our opinion until the following visit will prevent a blunder 
being made. 
Even when well established, laminitis has been mistaken 
for paralysis, for tetanus, for rheumatic affections of the 
loins, or even for some undiscovered affection of the muscles 
of the arms and chest. This latter is no doubt suggested 
to the uninitiated by the reluctance the animal shows to 
move the muscles apparently of that region, and led the 
older writers to give to the disease its name of ‘ Chest- 
founder.’ It is only fair to add, however, that these 
blunders in diagnosis are nearly always committed by 
persons without a veterinary training. 
Thus warned, the veterinary surgeon of average ability 
should have no difficulty in estublishing a distinction 
between the ‘diseases we have enumerated as likely to be 
confounded with it, and the one this chapter is describing. 
The prognosis in laminitis should, in our opinion, always 
be guarded. No advice given in a work of this description 
can be of any real use, for every case must be judged 
entirely on its merits. The severity of the symptoms, the 
