Lameness in horses. 
665 
tioner; inasmuch as, on inquiry, it will prove, in all probability, to 
have been already for some time in existence. This, together with 
its peculiar character, will render the treatment different in some 
important respects from that which we find most effectual in the 
acute disease. Having to deal with an inflammatory action of but 
moderate intensity, though of insidious and persistent character, we 
in vain make attempts to suddenly arrest it or cut it short by large 
blood-lettings, such as affect the system. In acute laminitis, wherein 
fever runs so painfully high, lowering the system is an excellent 
practice ; but not in the sub-acute affection, where there is no 
fever, and where the inflammation is of a character little more to 
be affected by a constitutional than a topical blood-letting, and, 
after either one or the other, will be pretty certain to relapse. 
Under these circumstances we find local abstraction of blood, and 
repetitions of it, to be in the end more effectual than one or two 
large depletions; while they are unattended with the disadvantage 
of depressing the system to no good purpose, and, moreover, will 
bear frequent repetition. Blood may be taken in moderate quan- 
tities from the plat veins ; though it would be better to draw it 
more directly from the foot or feet. My practice consists in 
inserting frog-setons, the same as I would for acute laminitis; and 
not, until this has been done, determining on the further abstraction 
of blood from the foot. For sometimes, as 1 said on a former 
occasion, considerable hemorrhage follows this operation, and then 
further blood-letting, fora time at least, is'not required; but should 
no amount of blood escape from the setons, one or both, in the foot 
which has not bled much I open the artery at the toe : the pastern 
veins affording too small an issue in general to invite having re- 
course to them. These topical abstractions should be persevered 
in every second or third day, according to the requirements of the 
case ; and warm poultices applied upon the feet, of the same 
description as has been already recommended, in order to produce 
and encourage suppuration in the setons. Nor must we neglect to 
give a strong purge; which here, as in the acute, ought to be 
administered in the first commencement of the treatment. I do 
not approve at this early stage of blistering the coronets, though 
at a later period, blisters applied to the pasterns, and even fetlocks 
as well, often prove of signal service. 
As soon as suppurative action is established in the setons, and 
they have continued for a couple of weeks or so to run freely, and 
the horse appears amending, we may withdraw them, and sub- 
stitute cold and bracing applications for the poultices. Covering 
the hoofs with padded swabs, or compelling the horse to stand for 
some three or four hours daily in a bed of wet clay, made in a 
spare stall for him, will be found very beneficial, so long as there 
