450 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 
tive and somewhat thickened after the laminitis subsides, and a little 
lameness is present. This lameness persists, and the deposits of new 
bone may readily be detected. 
Suppuration of the sensitive membrane is a somewhat common 
complication, and even when present in its most limited form is 
always a serious matter; but when it becomes extensive, and especially 
when the suppurative process extends to the periosteum, the results 
are liable to be fatal. When suppuration occurs the exudation does 
not appear to be excessive. It is rich in leucocytes and seems to have 
caused detachment of the sensitive tissues from the horn prior to the 
formation of pus in some instances; in others the tissues are still 
attached to the horn, and the suppuration takes place in the deeper 
tissues. 
Limited suppuration may take place in any part of the sensitive 
tissues of the foot during laminitis, and may ultimately be reabsorbed 
instead of being discharged upon the surface, but generally the 
process begins in the neighborhood of the toe and spreads backward 
and upward toward the coronet, finally separating the horn from the 
coronary band at the quarters. At the same time it spreads over the 
sole and eventually the entire hoof is loosened and sloughs away, 
leaving the tissues beneath entirely unprotected. In other instances— 
and these are generally the cases not considered unusually severe—the 
suppuration begins at the coronary band. It extends but a short dis- 
tance into the tissues, yet destroys the patient by separating the hoof 
from the coronary band, upon which it depends for support and 
growth. This form of the suppurative process usually begins in 
front. It is this part of the coronary band that is always most 
actively affected with inflammation, and consequently it is here that 
impairments first occur. 
Suppuration of the sensitive sole is more common than of the sensi- 
tive laminz and coronary band. It is present in the majority of cases 
in which there is a dropping of the coffin bone, and in other instances 
when the effusion at this point is so great as to arrest the production 
of horn and uncover the sensitive tissues. Except when the result of 
injury it begins at the toe and spreads backward, and, if not relieved 
by opening the sole, escapes at the heel. Suppuration of the sole is 
much less serious than in other parts of the foot. 
If the acute constitutional symptoms developed from sloughing of 
the foot do not result in death, a new hoof of very imperfect horn 
may be developed after a time; but unless the animal is to be kept for 
breeding purposes alone the foot will ever be useless for work and 
death should relieve the suffering. When only the sole sloughs, 
recovery takes place with proper treatment. 
Peditis—This is the term that Williams applies to that serious 
complication of laminitis in which not only the lamine, but the peri- 
