LECTURE XLIV. 

 LAMINITIS. 



Definition. —This is a painful and rather frequent disease of 

 horses, — commonly called founder. It is essentially an inflamma- 

 tion of the sensitive parts within the hoof, and takes its name from 

 the sensitive laminae. The third phalynx is frequently involved. 



Symptoms. — The horse usually persists in recumbent posi- 

 tion. There is unmistakable evidence of soreness in the affected 

 limbs, coupled with symptoms of extreme pain. The respiration, 

 pulse and even the temperature may be increased as a direct result 

 of the great pain. If the disease affects the front feet, the horse 

 carries as much of the weight as possible upon the hind feet, with 

 the two front limbs projecting forward. If the hind feet are in- 

 volved, the horse stands with the two front feet back under the 

 body, carrving as much weight as possible, with the two hind feet 

 extending forward so as to relieve the sensitive toes from pres- 

 sure. 



Cause. — Laminitis results from profound disturbances of the 

 circulation. The unyielding horny box does not permit expan- 

 sion of the inflamed tissues, hence the great pain that is in- 

 variably manifest in this disease. This disorder may have its 

 origin in an unusual over feeding ; or in a large quantity of very 

 cold water taken wdien a horse is very hot or tired. It may be a re- 

 sult of forcing a horse to stand on hard footing for a long time. 

 It sometimes occurs in one front foot, or one hind foot, as an in- 

 direct result of lameness in the opposite limb. The horse over- 

 works the sound limb in order to relieve pain in the previously 

 lame one, and thus causes laminitis in the foot which had pre- 

 viously been sound. Laminitis not infrequently results as a trans- 

 fer from a pneumonia or bronchitis : sometimes from inflamma- 

 tion of the bowels, and apparently without other direct exciting 

 cause. 



Pathology. — There is first of all an inflammation of the sensi- 

 tive parts within the hoof, especially the sensitive laminae. This 



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