486 
LAMENESS IN HORSES. 
the sole as well. Indeed, D’Arboval maintains that the disease 
( la phlegmasie appelee la fourbure) itself reaches these parts, and 
the joints which they go to form as well. After a time the coro- 
net loses its fulness, and manifests, especially on pressure, a sink- 
ing inwards. Sometimes the legs are swollen. 
The pain, in addition to the unmistakeable evidence we have 
already had of it, may locally be made manifest by tapping the hoofs 
with some hard body, such as the handle of a smith’s hammer, or, 
so far as the sole is concerned, by compressing it with the pincers. 
Altogether, it is of the most distressing character, disordering the 
whole system to that degree, that 
Constitutional or symptomatic fever is the inevitable conse- 
quence. The animal is alarmingly ill; very much excited ; will not 
look at food ; feels hot all over ; oftentimes is actually sweating 
through the agony he is in. His mouth is parched ; his very 
breath is hot ; his respiration is short, hurried, and painful ; his 
pulse very high, and full and remarkably hard; his mucous mem- 
branes are all vascular and scarlet-from irritation ; parts of his body 
are in a state of tremor; he is continually changing either his posi- 
tion or situation in search of relief — his very countenance implor- 
ingly asks for it; and if it be not, in some shape or another, found and 
administered, there is danger, from the fever of irritation running 
so high, of the poor sufferer succumbing, or, at least, of being 
reduced to that deplorable condition wherein, human aid proving 
unavailing, it becomes a real act of humanity to recommend a 
pistol being presented to the patient’s head. 
Diagnosis. — With symptoms so strongly marked as those I 
have described as characteristic of laminitis, persons acquainted 
with the disease cannot but express surprise when they hear of its 
occurring unrecognised, or of any other disease being mistaken for 
it. I have heard my professional predecessor say, the late Mr. 
Bloxham, that he was on one occasion called in by a veterinary 
surgeon practising in London, to be consulted as to the treatment 
of a horse suffering from supposed “ inflammation of the kidneys." 
He found the patient upon his side, kicking and pawing in violent 
pain, and was told that “ pressure upon the loins created great 
pain.” Mr. B., however, suspecting what was amiss from finding 
the feet very hot, requested that the horse might be made to rise. 
This had been deemed impracticable. At length, however, after 
some fresh trials, with the usual difficulty and peculiarity of effort, 
the standing posture was effected ; and no sooner was it accom- 
plished than “the tale was told” — the nature of the disease was 
made manifest beyond a doubt. And this constitutes the best 
method of procedure whenever the animal is found lying, and any 
doubt impends as to what is amiss with him. 
The heaving of the flanks and the dilated nostrils, indicating 
