LAMINITIS, OB FOTTNDEE. 419 



the sole causes in the tissues beneath. The manner of the progression 

 is pathognomonic of the complaint. Sometimes the affected feet are 

 simultaneously raised from the ground (the hind ones sustaining the 

 weight), then advanced a short distance and carefully replaced; at 

 almost the same moment the hind ones are quickly shuffled forward 

 near to the center of gravitation. 



In other instances one foot at a time is advanced and placed with 

 the heel upon the ground in the same careful manner, all causes of 

 concussion being carefully avoided. In attempting to back the ani- 

 mal he is found to be almost stationary, simply swaying the body 

 backward on the haunches and elevating the toes of the diseased feet 

 as they rest upon their heels. In attempting to turn either to the 

 right or left he allows his head to be drawn to the one side to its full 

 extent before moving, then makes his hind feet the axis around 

 which the forward ones describe a shuffling circle. 



In a majority of cases of laminitis in the fore feet the animal per- 

 sists in standing until he is nearly recovered. In other cases he as 

 persistently lies, standing only when necessity seems to compel it, 

 and then for as short a time as possible. If the recumbent position is 

 once assumed, the relief experienced tempts the patient to seek it 

 again; and so we often find him down a greater part of the time. 

 But this is not true of all cases ; sometimes he will make the experi- 

 ment, then cautiously guard against a repetition. Even in cases of 

 enforced recumbency, he ofttimes takes advantage of the first 

 opportunity and gets upon his feet, doggedly remaining. there until 

 again laid upon his side. How to explain this diversity of action 

 I do not know; theoretically the recumbent position is the only ap- 

 propriate one, except when complications exist, and the one which 

 should give the most comfort, yet it is rejected by very many 

 patients and, no doubt, for some good reason. It has been suggested 

 as an explanation that when the animal gets upon his feet after 

 lying for a time the suffering is so greatly augmented that the mem- 

 ory of this .experience deters him from an attempted repetition. If 

 this were true, the horse with the first attack must necessarily make 

 the experiment before knowing the after effects of lying down, yet 

 many remain standing without even an attempt at gaining this 

 experimental knowledge. 



The most-favored position of the animal when down is on the 

 broadside, with the feet and legs extended. While in this position 

 the general symptoms greatly subside ; the respirations and pulse be- 

 come almost normal ; the temperature falls and the perspiration dries. 

 It is with difficulty that he is made to arise. When he attempts it he 

 gets up rapidly and " all of a heap," as it were, shifting quickly from 

 one to the other foot until they become accustomed to the weight 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



