416 
AN ESSAY ON CHRONIC PODOTROCIIOLITIS. 
traction of the wall under the coronary border. It is probable that 
in podotrocholitis the same cause produces the same effect. If the 
foot is raised, and firm pressure be made upon it between the heels, 
directed towards the flexor tendon, the horse will sometimes shew 
that it causes pain. 
Ultimately, according to the degree in which the horn is con- 
tracted, the foot appears to become either entirely or partially 
atrophied. In the former case, the transverse diameter is so nar- 
rowed that it cannot escape the notice of the least practised eye of 
a person placing himself in front of the animal ; in the second, the 
contraction varies according to the region in which it is seated. 
In general it presents itself on the internal side of the wall, and a 
uniform contraction of the inside quarter is perceptible ; sometimes 
it also comprises the outside quarter ; at others, either the wall or 
the quarter presents partial contraction below the coronet, or both 
these parts are contracted at once, so as to present the segment of 
a circle, the central point of which is found outside of the foot. 
The wall is at the same time uneven, circled or furrowed ( keraphyl - 
locele of Dord, karacele cicloide ofVatel*). The temperature of 
the hoof is occasionally slightly increased. Conjointly with these 
alterations and deformities, or long after they have begun to mani- 
fest themselves, the muscles of the shoulder of the diseased limb 
become atrophied from want of exercise. 
I repeat, the morbid disorders which manifest themselves in the 
foot and the shoulder never appear during the early stages of 
podotrocholitis ; before they are perceptible the disease has become 
highly chronic. We must not, however, conclude from their ab- 
sence that the disease does not exist; for these phenomena do not 
belong exclusively to it, but may present themselves independently 
of it. 
If I have not succeeded in tracing out so clear and graphic a 
picture of chronic podotrocholitis as the one existing in my own 
mind ; my sketch, nevertheless, contains the characters of the disease 
as it is generally met with; albeit, it possesses divers and various 
modifications, especially when complicated with other affections of 
the limb. The diagnostic then becomes difficult, and often im- 
possible. Such doubtful cases cannot be collected under any 
general heads ; they must be studied in all their various aspects, 
and they require for their description an accurate knowledge of 
their pathology, experience, sound tact, and clear judgment. 
[To be continued.] 
* In England often described as rimmy. 
