WEST OF ENGLAND VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 63 
nail. In such he had always adopted the old method of resting the 
part and applying warmth and moisture, at the same time lessening 
as much as possible the pressure on the portion affected by scraping 
the nail. 
Mr. Broad considered that no analogy whatever existed between the 
human nail and the horny box of the horse’s foot, at least not so 
far as the disease in question was concerned. 
Mr. T. D. Barford maintained that there was a precise similarity 
between these two structures, both in health and disease, but the 
main question in these cases was the cause of the malady—there 
was the only difference ; in the one it was common, in the other 
specific. In treating them he considered that similar measures 
should be adopted, as he himself in veterinary practice had always 
hitherto done. The speaker expressed himself sceptical as to the 
results of the new method in all cases. 
Mr. T. Aubrey considered that the acute cases of laminitis were 
caused only by over-exertion. The most severe cases never resulted 
from simple plethora, unless such plethora be first augmented into 
febrile or inflammatory symptoms, when the metastatic form of the 
disease might appear. Such cases as these often ran a very rapid 
course ; they would rank second in intensity to the acute. He had 
always adopted the old antiphlogistic plan of treatment, but with 
variable success. He was somewhat dubious as to this new method, 
but would give it a fair trial. He asked the essayist how he would 
treat a single foot affected with laminitis, as it occasionally occurs 
with the opposite limb injured. 
The President that since the last meeting he had ordered 
slow exercise in two subacute cases which had come under his 
notice, and in both it was followed with beneficial results. He had 
not yet tried it in any case of a severe nature. 
Mr. B. Jermyn said that he had adopted Mr. Broad’s treatment 
in one case only, and in that it proved successful. He imposed 
some amount of faith in it on that account. 
Mr. Isaac James wished to know why the essayist advised such 
an extreme thickness in the shoes in these cases. 
Mr. Broad, in reply, said that he always found horses to travel 
with greater ease if protected by a good thickness of shoe; the con¬ 
cussion, in his opinion, was not so great as it would be with a shoe 
of less weight. 
Mr. Thomas Greaves, in commenting upon the essay generally, 
observed that he had the good fortune to have heard this sub¬ 
ject brought forward and discussed at three or four previous 
veterinary medical meetings, but on no single occasion had he felt 
greater pleasure or profited more than on the present one. He com¬ 
plimented Mr. Broad upon his having broken fresh ground, and 
advanced a new principle of treatment, by which a degree of success 
was obtained hitherto considered impossible. He observed that by 
such essays the advancement of the profession would be effected, 
and at the same time they would reflect credit on their authors and 
the associations of which they formed part. In speaking of the 
