610 
W. BRYDEN. 
hoof depravity of many months’ existence ; and the stage it 
had arrived at, one which nature with all the assistance art 
could give her, would require months to repair, unless a job 
of patchwork should be attempted and prove satisfactory to 
the owner. 
The near foot was also imperfect, but from a different 
combination of circumstances. The wall had general con¬ 
traction, but it did not become short and brittle at the lower 
margin of each side of the hoof, nor was the growth at the 
coronet in front almost entirely arrested, as shown by the 
other foot, two features of great interest and significance in 
the pathology of the horse’s feet and limbs. Another point 
worthy of note suggested by the case is that (i) laminitis fol¬ 
lowed by seedy-toe may possibly be quite a different patho¬ 
logical condition—only one foot being usually affected; and 
(2) laminitis followed by chronic founder in which two fore 
feet, two hind feet, or all four feet, are simultaneously and* 
similarly affected. As both are curable conditions up to an 
advanced stage, and the treatment much alike, the import¬ 
ance of being able to discriminate between these two condi¬ 
tions is robbed of some of its practical value, but not of its 
scientific interest; that is, whether one has an element ol 
constitutional trouble which is wanting in the other. 
In studies of this subject it is well to bear in mind that 
the hoofs of horses vary greatly in form, size, and quality in 
individuals, even of the same family ; and that domestication, 
with the restraints incident thereto, subjects them to many 
unfavorable experiences and adverse changes which still fur-l 
ther predispose them to unsymmetrical growths, perhaps to 
diseases of the limbs, especially those peculiar to their spe¬ 
cies. For example, hoofs sometimes do not grow alike, i. e., it 
is not unusual to find the two fore feet mismated, or the two.; 
hind ones either ; indeed, all four feet may be different. Other 
circumstances, such as want of tear and wear, unsuitable soil' 
and climate, accidents and exposures, especially during colt- 
hood, when the hoofs are growing, or rather developing, 
often incline them to defective forms and qualities at matur¬ 
ity, which are readily excited to disease when the animal 
