PATHOLOGY OF LAMINITIS. 
513 
system fairly shudder again, as if from internal workings. 
There is at that moment a great natural conflict being 
carried on. For twelve hours after the animal occasionally 
breaks out in perspiration, and the breathing becomes 
hurried. The enemy relinquishes his positions only by 
degrees, after having had his forces decimated. The disease 
as yet can only produce a very slight effect upon the 
lymphatics, which become perceptibly tender, but this soon 
disappears. Here is the gist of the whole question. We do 
not radically expel the disease ; for after a while, a few 
months it may be, it acquires new strength, and again 
assumes the offensive. But to revert to laminitis. The moment 
the fact of its existence becomes recognisable from any of 
the indications named in my former paper, I would act 
promptly. And here allow me to remark that the practi- 
tioner is pardonable if his anxiety induces him to take as 
a precautionary measure that step which the after symptoms 
prove was unnecessary ; for remember, not only his own 
conscience, but his profession, and even his employer, will 
more readily acquit him for having made an unnecessary 
move to prevent a formidable attack, than if, by the neglect 
or omission of one point in treatment, he had allowed the 
enemy a ready and an undisputed entrance; for at that 
interesting crisis the wave of life sometimes flows on tremu- 
lously and uncertain, and during that short period of uncon- 
sciousness the condition determining the result is imper- 
ceptible and almost unascertainable ; and therefore, in order 
to avert it from settling in the laminae, the first step I take 
is the careful removal of the shoes, and then see that the 
horn is supplied with a sufficient amount of moisture. If 
the animal were in good condition, I would bleed from the 
neck to an extent that will make an impression upon the 
vascular system, and administer a gentle purgative, but 
never aloes alone, always combine it with some carminative ; 
feed on mashes, and place the animal in a cool loose box 
having a soft moist floor ; for we always find the sensitive 
sole at the toe, as well as the sensitive laminae at the same 
part, to be the earliest and chiefly affected. This treatment 
followed up with entire change of diet, and easy work, for 
some time afterwards, will, in all probability, if not entirely 
remove the disease, so far weaken its influence as in all 
probability to put far off the evil day. But if, on the contrary, 
as it sometimes does happen, the disease continues to make 
head, despite all w T e can do to prevent it, that tenderness and 
lameness, or in other words active laminitis shows itself, 
we shall find it necessary to concentrate all our preventive 
xxvm. 66 
