DISEASES. 643 



If only on one side, the affected leg is carried forward, and 

 thus relieved from the too painful pressure which would take 

 place if it remained in a vertical direction under the center of 

 gravity. When both feet are diseased, the horse is constantly 

 moving and balancing himself, poiating the legs alternately, and 

 sometimes stretching both legs forward, as in laminitis, but always 

 moving, so as to push his bedding under him and away from his 

 fore feet. 



If the pain is slight, there is only a stiff gait, and the animal 

 hesitates and stumbles easily. But if the disease is advanced the 

 lameness is great and the animal is very groggy in his gait. He 

 fears to rest on his heels, which, without being a pecuHar charac- 

 teristic, is a symptom which present, however, a particularly notice- 

 able condition. WhUe there is hesitation in the action of resting, 

 there is difficulty in that of the shoulder. This is principally, 

 observable when the disease affects both feet. The shoulders^ 

 then seem to be fixed to the trunk, and their motion forward is 

 very limited. The symptoms are mostly more marked when the 

 animal leaves the stable. It may then happen that the pain tem- 

 porarily losing somewhat of its intensity as the horse is moved, 

 the shoulders become more free, the liberty of action returns, 

 and once warmed up, the animal may offer a totally different ap- 

 pearance from that when first leaving the stable. But as soon as 

 they become rested, the pain returns as severely as before, if not 

 more so, and with it the same exhibitions of symptoms. 



The examination of the unshod foot while it is warm, shows 

 the extreme sensiblity of the heels. The foot being pared, gen- 

 erally one may observe, in the region where the contraction is 

 most marked, yellowish or reddish discolorations, evidences of 

 the bruises in the Uving parts, as well as of the serous or bloody 

 exudations which have taken place on their surfaces. These indi- 

 cations are especially abundant on the level of the sole and wall. 

 If the contraction is old, there is at that point a purulent mass 

 which, when removed, leaves a cavity which sometimes extends 

 npward under the quarters. It is a separation of the wall, of two 

 or three centimeters in depth. 



An important observation for hoof-bound, and which assists in 

 its recognition, is the increased wear upon the shoes at the toe, 

 which takes place not only when animals are working, but also 

 while idle in the stable, as the result of pointing and scraping the 



