ACUTE LAMINITIS. 185 



pedal bone, though without the increased formation of horn. 

 Hence, when these fluids are removed, a cavity will be found 

 between the wall and the pedal bone, and partly filled up by the 

 dried remains of the blood or exudation. Tliis is the condition 

 known as " seedy-toe.'' In it, the secreting membrane of the hoof 

 does not produce an excessive quantity of horn as it does in the 

 other case. When the inflammation is intense, the amount of 

 exudation or suppuration, whichever is present, may be so great as 

 to force away the hoof, at the coronet, from its secreting membrane, 

 and thus cause the hoof to become shed. If the animal survives 

 this terribly severe accident, the old hoof will be replaced, in time, 

 by another of weaker and more imperfect horn. In the event of 

 recovery after the point of the pedal bone has come through the 

 sole, the protruding part will, if allowed to do so, drop off, and the 

 remainder of that portion of bone which has been brought close to 

 the sole, will become more or less absorbed. The exposure of the 

 sensitive parts to the action of air, water, and especially dirt, may 

 be followed by a tedious suppurating wound, and possibly by 

 blood-poisoning. When displacement of the pedal bone has 

 taken place, the sole becomes thin, weak, and, as already re- 

 marked, more or less convex, which is a condition popularly 

 known as '' dropped sole " (Figs. 59 and 60). It is evident that 

 such complications would very seriously diminish the usefulness 

 of the animal. 



Figs. 62 and 63 show the foot of a leg that had evidently suffered 

 from rupture of the perforans tendon (p. 37), which was conse- 

 quently unable to keep, the toe down. Hence the animal went on 

 its heel, as in laminitis, for which disease the injury in question 

 was probably mistaken, as the toe was allowed to become unusually 

 long. The characteristic concavity of the profile of the foot and 

 the irregular rings of horn indicative of laminitis (Fig. 59) were, 

 however, wanting ; and there was no " dropping " of the pedal 

 bone, as seen by Fig. 63. 



In all cases, laminitis shows a great tendency to recur, and also 

 to become chronic. 



CAUSES, PREDISPOSING CAUSES, AND PREDISPOSITION. 

 — 1. Want of exercise is a frequent cause of laminitis among horses 

 which are sent on long sea voyages and are not able to lie down, 

 as I have- pointed out in " Horses on Board Ship." In such cEises, 

 it is more correct to refer the disease to inaction, than to long- 

 continued standing ; because such animals are far more liable to 

 get laminitis during fine weather, than when the sea is rough. 

 Also, their risk of becoming affeqted is greatly decreased by 

 giving them even a quarter of an hour's daily exercise, which is 



