LONDON VETERINARY MEDICAL SOCIETY. 31) 
an increased secretion of horn. It was the nature of inflamma¬ 
tion to produce increased action; but when the inflammation had 
obtained a certain height, the vessels were no longer able to carry 
on the secretory process. The lings on the hoof, which had been 
supposed to be proofs of present or recent inflammation, only in¬ 
dicated increased and irregular action. A blister round the coro- 
net would always produce a ring round the foot, and even a hard 
day’s riding would occasionally produce the same effect. 
There was considerable dispute whether the horse was disposed 
to stand or lie down during the inflammatory action. Mr. Field had 
observed, that horses would continue obstinately to stand for many 
days, when labouring under this disease; others regarded his lying 
down as one of the symptoms which usually led to a suspicion of 
the disease. It seemed to be the general opinion that, even in an 
early stage of the complaint, the horse will lie down as much as 
he can : the period when he begins to lie down will depend much 
on his size and bulk.—It was denied by one gentleman that the 
horse lies down to relieve the pain which he feels; and he illus¬ 
trated this by our own sensations when we wear a tight shoe or 
boot: the principal agony is when we lift the foot from the ground, 
and the blood rushes into it. To this it was replied, that the first 
moment might be painful, but that ease rapidly succeeded; and 
that it was a principle in all inflammations of the extremities, 
to lessen the distention of the vessels, by placing the limb as 
much as possible in a horizontal position, and taking away the pres¬ 
sure of the blood. 
The separation of the hoof proceeded from the cessation of the 
secretory process of horn, and the throwing out of pus, by which 
nature often relieves vessels distended by inflammation. The 
means of cure were rest, paring the foot as much as possible; 
local bleeding, and that from the circulus arteriosus; physic, and 
spare diet. 
One gentleman stated that he never pared the sole, or bled at 
the toe. He sometimes opened the radial vein, but bled as often 
from the jugular, and kept the horse continually moving to pre¬ 
vent congestion. His opinion, however, found no supporter. 
It was generally admitted, that there was not much difficulty 
in obtaining as much blood from the toe as we wanted, especially 
if the sole was a little elevated. A discussion took place on 
the propriety of blistering the coronet. Some gentlemen regarded 
the coronary ligament as a continuation of membrane already in¬ 
flamed, and feared that a stimulus applied to it might increase 
the inflammation. It was, however, the opinion of the majority 
that the practice was beneficial, not only in exciting irritation in a 
part almost contiguous, and therefore relieving the surface pre- 
