CHRONIC LAMINITIS. 199 



doing as much as possible, and will consequently adopt the opposite 

 style of progression. Although, when walking, the fore feet are 

 advanced more than in health, the steps taken are shorter than 

 usual. As a rule, there will be some heat present in the affected 

 foot or feet, especially after work. The peculiar position assumed 

 by the horse when standing in the stable, trying as he does to 

 throw weight on the heels, is generally characteristic. Usually, 

 the profile of the foot, from coronet to toe, becomes more or less 

 concave ; the sole, flattened or even convex ; the horn weak and 

 brittle ; the thickness of the horn at the toe on the ground surface 

 of the foot, greatly increased ; and the frog larger than usual, the 

 stimulated development of the frog being a result of increased 

 pressure, and not of disease. In almost all cases, the frogs of 

 feet which have been subjected to the influences of shoeing for a 

 considerable time, become far smaller than they would have done, 

 had the horse remained barefoot. Consequently, a condition of 

 frog peculiar to shod feet is apt to be regarded as normal. Feet 

 aft'ected with laminitis are, as a rule, distinguished by rings of 

 horn which run irregularly, but close together, round the foot 

 (Fig. 59). In a healthy hoof, there is generally only one ring 

 (Fig. 64), due to the change in the season of the year causing a 

 difference in the activity of the cells that secrete horn. Some- 

 times, to hide the defect, the rings brought on by this ailment 

 are neatly rasped away. It is easy to xinderstand that the growth 

 of such rings will usually take place in an irregular manner. The 

 periodical fluctuation in the normal activity of these cells occurs 

 at the same time as that of the cells which secrete the coat. 

 Thus, in the ordinary course of events, when a horse sheds his 

 hair, the growth of horn is languid ; and when he assumes his 

 winter's coat, it is vigorous. 



A horse suffering from chronic laminitis does not work sounder 

 when he " warms up,'' as he does when affected by navicular 

 disease ; on the contrary, he works lamer and lamer. Seedy-toe 

 (p. 200) often accompanies chronic laminitis. Although unfit for 

 hunting and trotting on hard roads, the animal may be capable 

 of useful work on a farm. 



TREATMENT. — In chronic laminitis, or in cases having a ten- 

 dency to it, the sol© and frog should be allowed to remain un- 

 touched by the drawing knife, but the wall should be kept well 

 rasped down ; care being taken that the shoe does not press on any 

 sensitive part of the sole, which is usually in an abnormally thin 

 condition. Leather, placed between the wall and the shoe, by 

 diminishing the effect of concussion, is often of service, though its 

 presence will somewhat lessen the hold of the nails. Pressure on 



