ON CORON IT IS. 433 
throughout the substance, which keeps it in the natural pliable 
state. 
The SYMPTOMS of the disease are, — harshness and brittleness 
of the crust — loss of pliability — increased heat around the coronet 
and upper part of the crust — occasionally a fulness of the coronet, 
and tenderness on pressure — a shuffling gait, but rarely limping, 
unless the attack be a very severe one, or of one foot only — a de- 
squamation, or tendency thereto, of the frog-band — diminished se- 
cretion of horn, and a suppression of the perspiratory secretion. 
The gait is variable according to the peculiar action of the individual 
animal, the object being in all to exert as little as possible the 
parts affected. The effort is evidently to glide the foot along the 
ground, instead of stepping in the ordinary manner. 
The DURATION of the disease will be marked by the irregular 
action of the secreting vessels causing the hoof to have that ap- 
pearance which is termed ringy. It may be of such a duration only 
as to present a band of depression, and one of increased growth. 
While the horn is healthy above, the horn below is harsh and dry 
from the want of perspiratory secretion, the depressed band having 
cut off the supply by exudation. 
It may be known from carpitis by the legs not being bent or 
tremulous, and by manifest improvement in going on soft ground, 
which in carpitis is not the case ; and from there being tenderness 
about the coronets : 
From rheumatism , by the absence of stiffness of the limbs ; by 
standing in the stable without pain, and moving across the stall 
readily ; and very generally by there being a disposition to con- 
stitutional derangement in rheumatism, which is not the case in 
coronitis : 
From laminitis, by the less degree of pain ; by standing up ; 
by less difficulty in progression ; by not stepping so much on the 
heels : 
From naviculitis, by the absence of the pointing the foot on 
standing still ; by the greater heat of coronet ; by stepping more 
evenly on the foot : 
From ringbone, by the less limping and more shuffling gait; by 
the tenderness or heat being rather lower down ; and by the swell- 
ing in ringbone being greater. 
Causes : — Long-continued or too severe concussion — standing 
upon hot dry litter — being ridden into cold running water in hot 
weather while heated — being ridden in deep gravelly soils or 
through fresh cut stones — over-reaches. These three latter causes 
will more particularly affect the posterior part of the coronary body 
forming the bulbs of the frog ; but by far the most frequently occur- 
ring, and the least suspected, is from the improper fixing of the shoe 
