446 DISEASES OF THE HORSE, 
In most of cases of laminitis in the fore feet the animal persists 
in standing until he is nearly recovered. In other cases he as per- 
sistently lies, standing only when necessity seems to compel it, and 
then for as short a time as possible. If the recumbent position is 
once assumed, the relief experienced tempts the patient to seek it 
again; so we often find him down a greater part of the time. But 
this is not true of all cases; sometimes he will make the experiment, 
then cautiously guard against a repetition. Even in cases of enforced 
recumbency, he ofttimes takes advantage of the first opportunity 
and gets upon his feet, doggedly remaining there until again laid 
upon his side. How to explain this diversity of action I do not 
know; theoretically the recumbent position is the only appropriate 
one, except when complications exist, and the one which should give 
the most comfort, yet it is rejected by very many patients and, no 
doubt, for some good reason. It has been suggested as an explana- 
tion that when the animal gets upon his feet after lying for a time 
the suffering is so greatly augmented that the memory of this ex- 
perience deters him from an attempted repetition. If this were 
true, the horse with the first attack must necessarily make the ex- 
periment before knowing the after effects of lying-down, yet many 
remain standing without even an attempt at gaining this experi- 
mental knowledge. 
The most-favored position of the animal when down is on the 
broadside, with the feet and legs extended. While in this position 
the general symptoms greatly subside; the respirations and pulse 
become almost normal; the temperature falls and the perspiration 
dries. It is with difficulty that he is made to rise. When he at- 
tempts it he gets up rapidly and “all of a heap,” as it were, shifting 
quickly from one to the other foot until they become accustomed to 
the weight thrown upon them. Occasionally a patient will get up 
like a cow, rising upon the hind feet first. Although enforced ex- 
ercise relieves the soreness to some extent, it is but temporary, for 
after a few minutes’ rest it returns with all its former severity. 
Both hind feet-——When only both hind feet are affected, they are, 
while standing, maintained in the same position as when only the fore 
ones are the subjects of the disease, but with an entirely different 
object in view. Instead of being there to receive weight, they are so 
advanced that the heels only may receive what little weight is neces- 
sarily imposed on them; the fore feet at the same time are placed 
well back beneath the body, where they become the main supports; 
the animal standing, as Williams describes it, “ all of a heap.” 
Progression is even more difficult now than when the disease is 
confined to the anterior extremities. The fore feet are dubiously 
advanced a short distance and the hind ones brought forward with a 
sort of kangaroo hop that results in an apparent loss of equilibrium 
