484 
LAMEN ESS IN HORSES. 
shorter than usual, or, as grooms are apt to express it, “ scramble," 
treading more upon his heels than upon his toes. D’Arboval has 
remarked that laminitis never immediately succeeds the applica- 
tion of the cause giving rise to it; but that a horse coming off a 
journey, or trying feat of any kind, will stand in the stable for an 
hour or more before the laminitis, the consequence of it, becomes 
developed. This, Professor Rigot accounts for by supposing that 
exercise augments the capillary circulation of blood through the 
foot, while rests proves unfavourable to it. After great exertion, 
the plantar vessels become surcharged to that degree that the veins 
are rendered incapable during subsequent repose of relieving the 
capillaries; hence congestion, followed by inflammation. 
The Symptoms of acute Laminitis — supposing the disease 
to be, as it usually is, confined to the fore feet, and to be perfectly 
developed — are of so marked and peculiar a character, that they 
can hardly, by a person pretending to any experience, be mistaken. 
The horse presents himself in a paroxysm of pain. Should he be 
standing, his posture is crouched, or “ all of a heap," as the stable 
phrase goes, and he is panting and blowing from the terrible 
agony he is enduring. His general aspect and position is at 
once striking and characteristic. His hind feet are advanced un- 
derneath his body as far as he can get them, in order that he may 
relieve his painful fore feet all he can from bearing any portion of 
the superincumbent weight. If urged, or rather forced, to step 
forward — for walking is out of the question — most unwillingly he 
makes an effort to do so ; and his method of accomplishing it is 
expressive of no disease save laminitis. Instead of advancing one 
fore foot as ordinarily, he commences by shuffling his hind feet 
still further underneath him, and then either steps, first with one 
fore foot and then with the other, most gingerly upon his heels, or 
else with an effort lifts both fore feet at once, and makes a sort of 
leap forward. In this manner he accomplishes progression to a 
very limited extent, after being compelled to muster all his courage 
to do so If one (fore) foot suffer more than the other, he will shew 
it in these efforts to move, if not at the time he is standing still. 
Should the patient at our first visit be found lying, his efforts to 
rise upon his painful feet are as singular and methodical as his at- 
tempts to walk. He is probably lying, stretched out upon his side, 
pawing and scraping with his fore feet, from the pain in them. The 
moment he finds himself compelled to rise, he rears himself up 
upon his side, gathers his hind feet underneath him, and, making 
them the fulcra, with a resolute and powerful effort he springs up 
upon his hind quarters, all the while contriving to keep his fore 
feet aloof from the ground, or, at all events, from taking any of the 
bearing ; and lie is no sooner up than he resumes the same crouch- 
