280 DISEASES OF THE HORSE’S FOOT / 
need for long consideration as to diagnosis; the symptoms, 
showed at once that I had an uncommonly severe case 
of acute founder before me. On examination I found the 
pulse was 120, the respirations 100, and the thermometer — 
106° F. The poor brute could not move, the fore-legs were 
well out before, and the hind-legs thrown back behind ; in 
fact, he was, as one might say, propping himself up with 
his four legs ! 
‘On examining his feet, I discovered what I had never 
either seen or heard of before—namely, blood freely oozing 
out at the coronet of all four feet; if anything, the hind-feet 
were the worst, and, showing that this bloody discharge 
at coronets had commenced during progression and before 
he was stabled, the inside of the thighs were all shotted 
over with blood, which had been thrown up by his feet 
while he was trotting or walking. He was completely 
soaked all over with perspiration. 
“My prognosis could not well be otherwise than unsatis- 
factory. I resolved, however, to do all I could to relieve 
the poor suffering brute. As a matter of course, jugular 
phlebotomy was utterly impracticable; so, to relieve the 
pressure in the feet, I had him (after, with extreme 
difficulty, removing the shoes) bled, or rather opened, at all 
four toes, and hot poultices applied. On opening the off- 
side toe, in both hind and fore feet, I found an escape 
of very dark-coloured blood, with a great many bubbles 
of gas, thus showing that the destructive process was fairly 
established in the two bony extremities mentioned. The 
near fore and near hind feet showed no signs of gas-bubbles 
on being opened at the toe. 
‘I gave a laxative in combination with a diffusible 
stimulant, and ordered doses of aconite and potassium 
iodide; I also applied strong sinapisms to each side, 
immediately behind the shoulders. After three hours I 
found my patient rather easier ; respiration about 90, and 
temperature 104°; willing to take a little water, and even 
attempted to take some hay. Ordered continued applica- 
tions of hot water to the poultices at feet, and clothed him 
