ACUTE LAMINITIS. 197 



nature. In addition to the curative measures jUst described, it is 

 advisable to remove from 4 to 8 quarts of blood from the jugular 

 vein; but bleeding from the coronet or toe should not be done, 

 because these operations are liable to injuriously inte'rfere with 

 the local circulation. 



Aloes as a purgative does not, as a rule, act well, apparently 

 because it irritates the mucous membrane of the intestines, witli 

 which the secreting membrane of the foot is in close sympathy. 

 As a purgative, a subcutaneous or intratracheal injection of eserine 

 and pilocarpine (p. 621) is far preferable to aloes. 



The best local treatment is walking the horse through cold 

 water; or, if this cannot be done, standing him in cold water. 

 Standing him in warm water or poulticing the feet has a bad 

 effect in promoting congestion. During the intervals, allow the 

 horse to lie down as much as possible. If he will not do so of 

 his own accord, throw him gently (p. 652). The advisability of 

 doing this is shown by the pulse, after the horse is down, always 

 falling in a marked manner. After some days, when convales- 

 cence sets in, use . Broad's shoes, which are extremely stout, 

 wide-webbed, and long bar shoes, made from iron about twice 

 the ordinary thickness of those of the particular animal under 

 treatment; make them gradually thin from behind the quarter, 

 so that the heel part of the shoes may be as wide and thin as 

 possible, and fitted rocker fashion to allow the weight of the 

 horse to be on that part; put them on with leather soles, using 

 only sufficient nails to ensure their staying on. 



French veterinary surgeons advise that after the horse has 'been 

 made to lie down, the foot should be lowered, and the sole pared 

 thin, so as to allow of expansion ; and in the event of an accumula- 

 tion of blood, exudation, or pus being suspected within the foot, 

 that an excavation for its liberation should be made at the toe, 

 somewhat similar to that for a prick in shoeing. English practice 

 is opposed to thinning the sole. 



If constipation or colicky pains be present, give a drachm of 

 extract of belladonna, or 40 drops of liquor atropise sulphatis sub- 

 cutaneously (p. 644) and linseed oil; supposing that an injection 

 of eserine and pilocarpine has not been tried. 



A short, slow walk, say, of a hundred yards at a time, should 

 be enforced in cases which arise from idleness and continued 

 standing, as may happen on board ship. After landing healthy 

 horses which have been at sea for three weeks or longer, it is 

 advisable to keep them for a week or ten days in loose boxes ; so 

 that they may recover the use of their feet, before they are, very 

 gradually, brought on to work. A walk, even of a couple of miles, 

 immediately after coming off ship, is apt to set up laminitis; 



