INFLAMMATORY AFFECTIONS 289 
Consequent upon the displacement of the bone, the | 
plantar cushion, by reason of the continued pressure thus 
put upon it, becomes atrophied, while its hinder half is, as 
it were, squeezed into taking up a position more posterior 
and higher in the digit than normally it should. The horn- 
secreting papille covering its inferior face thus become 
directed backwards sooner than downwards, in which way 
we account in some measure for the noticeable increase of 
horn at the heels. 
Treatment-—Chronic laminitis is incurable. Treatment 
must therefore be directed towards the palliation of such 
conditions as are present, with the object of rendering the 
the animal better able to perform work. When perforation 
of the sole has occurred, with the attendant formation of 
pus and necrosis of the os pedis, it is doubtful whether 
treatment of any kind is advisable. There are on record 
cases of this description, where careful curetting of the 
exposed and necrotic portions and the after application of 
antiseptic dressings, held in position by a plate shoe or 
a leather sole, has been followed by good results, and the 
animal restored for a time to labour. In our opinion, how- 
ever, early slaughter is the most economical course to 
adopt, and certainly the wisest advice to give to the 
ordinary client. 
When perforation of the sole is absent, and when serious 
alteration in the shape of the horny box has not occurred, 
then the most simple treatment is to put the animal 
straight away to slow work, with the feet protected by 
suitable shoes. 
Here, again, the most useful shoe is the Rocker Bar 
(Fig. 119). The broad web and deep seating gives ample 
protection to the convex sole, and with the ease in dis- 
tributing his weight that this shoe affords the animal is 
able to perform slow work on soft lands with some degree 
of comfort. 
Should the growth of the horn at the toe and at the 
heels be unduly excessive, then our attention may be 
directed towards reducing it to some approach to the 
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