DISEASES OF THE FETLOCK, ANKLE, AND FOOT. 447 



which the animal is a few moments in regaining. The general symp- 

 toms, or, in other words, the degree of suffering, seem more severe 

 than when the disease affects the fore feet alone. The standing posi- 

 tion is not often maintained, the patient seeking relief in recumbency. 

 This fact is easily understood when we consider how cramped and 

 unnatural is the position he assumes while standing and, if it were 

 maintained for any considerable length of time, would, no doubt, 

 excite the disease in the fore feet, as explained by D'Arboval. 



All four feet. — Laminitis of aU four feet is but uncommonly met 

 with. The author has seen but three such cases. In all these the posi- 

 tion assumed was nearly normal. All the feet were slightly advanced, 

 and first one, then another, momentarily raised from the ground and 

 carefully replaced, this action being kept up almost continually dur- 

 ing the time the animal remained standing. The suffering is most 

 acute, the appetite lost, and, although the patient lies most of the 

 time, the temperature remains too high. The pulse and respirations 

 are greatly accelerated, the body covered with sweat, and bed sores 

 are unpleasant accompaniments. 



Course. — ^The course which laminitis takes varies greatly in differ- 

 ent cases, being influenced more or less by the exciting cause, the 

 animal's previous condition, the acuteness of the attack, and the sub- 

 sequent treatment. The first symptoms rarely exhibit themselves 

 while the animal is at his work, although we -occasionally see the gait 

 impaired by stumbling, the body covered with a profuse sweat, and 

 the respirations become blowing in character as premonitions of the 

 oncoming disease; but, as a rule, nothing amiss with the animal is 

 noted until he has stood for some time after coming in from work, 

 when, in attempting to move him, he is found very stiff. Like all 

 congestions, the early symptoms usually develop rapidly ; yet this is 

 not always the case, for often there appeai-s to be no well-defined 

 period of congestion, the disease seemingly commencing at a point 

 and gradually spreading until a large territory is involved in the 

 morbid process. 



Simple congestion. — Those cases of simple congestion of the lam- 

 inae, which we erroneously call laminitis, are rapidly developed, the 

 symptoms are but moderately severe, and but one to three days are 

 required for recovery. There are no structural changes and but a 

 moderate exudate. This is rapidly reabsorbed, leaving the parts in 

 the same condition as they were previous to the attack. If the 

 congestion has been excessive, a rupture of some of the capillaries 

 will be found, a condition more liable to exist if the animal is 

 made to continue work after a development of symptoms has begun. 



True, the majority of these last-described cases prove to be the 

 laminitis in fact, yet the congestion may pass away and the extrava- 

 sated blood be absorbed without inflammation sufficient to warrant 



