414 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



the pastern joint is involved, if complete anchylosis results, the 

 patient may recover from the lameness with simply an imperfect 

 action of the foot remaining, due to the stiff joint. 



Treatment. — Before the bony growth has commenced the inflam- 

 matory process may be cut short by the use of cold baths and wet 

 bandages, followed by one or more blisters. If the bony deposits 

 have begun the firing iron should always be used. Even where the 

 tumors are large and the pastern joint involved firing often hastens 

 the process of anchylosis and should always be tried. 



Where the lower joint is involved or where the tumor interferes 

 with the action of the tendons recovery is not to be expected. In 

 many of these latter cases, however, the animal may be made service- 

 able by proper shoeing. If the patient walks with the toe on the 

 ground the foot should be shod with a high-heeled shoe and a short 

 toe. On the other hand, if he walks on the heel, a thick-toed and 

 thin-heeled shoe must be worn. 



Since ringbone is considered to be one of the hereditary diseases, 

 no animal suffering from this trouble should ever be used for breed- 

 ing purposes. 



Laminitis is a simple inflammation of the sensitive laminse of the 

 feet, characterized by the general phenomena attending inflamma- 

 tion of the skin and mucous membranes, producing no constitutional 

 disturbances except those, dependent upon the local disease, and hav- 

 ing a strong tendency, in severe cases, to destructive disorganization 

 of the tissues affected. 



Causes. — The causes of laminitis are as wide and variable as in any 

 of the local inflammations, and may be divided into two classes — the 

 predisposing and the exciting. 



Predisposing causes. — From personal observation I do not know 

 that any particular construction of foot or any special breed of horses 

 is predisposed to this disease, neither can I find anything to warrant 

 the assumption that it is in any way hereditary; so that while we 

 may easily cultivate a predisposition to the disease, it does not origi- 

 nate without an exciting cause. Like most other tissues, a predisposir 

 tion to inflammation may be induced in the sensitive laminse by any 

 cause which lessens their power of withstanding the work imposed on 

 them. It exists to an extent in those animals unaccustomed to work, 

 particularly if they are plethoric, and in all those that have been pre- 

 vious subjects of the disease ; for the same rule holds good here that 

 we find in so many diseases — i. e., that one attack impairs the func- 

 tional activity of the affected tissues and renders them more easy of a 

 subsequent inflammation. Unusual excitement by determining an 



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