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 all 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. AlJl 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 appears 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- 
inw, 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 
