276 DISEASES OF THE HORSE’S FOOT 
On the other hand, when the disease has occurred as a 
result of long standing in the stable and an overloaded 
condition of the bowels, or where one full meal of some 
constipating food, such as whole wheat, pea or bean meal, 
wheat or barley meal, has occasioned the attack, then a 
dose of aloes at the commencement of the treatment is 
productive of good. 
Suitable febrifuges are found in potassium nitrate, 
potassium chlorate, sodium sulphate, or magnesium sul- 
phate, either of which or a mixture of two or more of them, 
the animal will readily take in his drinking-water. 
The administration of sedatives is also indicated. In 
this connection aconite will be found most useful. More 
especially in the early stages of the disease, when pain is 
excessive and the temperature high, will its good effects be 
noticed. This also the animal will.often take in his drink- 
ing-water. We have been in the habit of so prescribing 
the B.P. tincture in $-dram doses three times daily. By 
its use the temperature is rapidly lowered, the pulse re- 
duced in number and in fulness, and the pain in some 
instances perceptibly diminished. With others hypodermic 
injections of morphia and atropine have given equally 
satisfactory results. 
Needless to say, good nursing is a sine qud non. During 
the first stages of the fever a light and easily digested diet 
should be allowed —bran-mashes, roots and grass when 
obtainable, and a carefully regulated supply of water. 
The animal should be warmly clothed and the box well 
ventilated, even to the opening of the doors and windows. 
Only in this way is pneumonia as a sequel sometimes pre- 
vented. The patient’s comfort should be attended to in 
providing him with a suitable bed. Anything in the shape 
of long litter should be avoided. When nothing else is at 
hand, litter that has already been broken and shortened 
by previous use is best. With this the box floor should be 
thickly covered, and matting of the material prevented by 
constant turning. A good bed for the horse with laminitis 
is peat-moss mixed with short straw. This, without being 
