324 Mil. BROAD IN REPLY TO MR. FLEMING. 
to the works of MM. Bouley and Lafosse, as I had not seen 
those articles, although I had a coversation with Professor 
Bouley on the subject in 1864,* and he then showed me the 
water-bath which was used in treating cases of laminitis; he 
at the same time took great pains in explaining to me his 
views of disease of the lamina, but I do not recollect his 
referring to exercise. On reading his work, I infer that he 
relies more on the application of water to the feet, than on 
any other means. I find that Lafosse speaks more of 
exercise, and also gives instructions for tacking on larger 
shoes. 
Mr. Fleming asks if I have ever used turpentine frictions 
to a horse suffering from laminitis. To this I reply that I 
have not, as I have never found any punishment necessary to 
cause the animal to move. I appeal to those members of the 
profession who have tried my plan of treatment, to say if 
they have found anything beyond the threat of punishment 
necessary. The repeated application of turpentine to the 
legs and body of a horse suffering from laminitis, must add 
to the irritation, and if applied much to the legs, it would 
make the skin sore, and the horse adverse to movement. 
Mr. Fleming also thinks that the majority of my cases 
must have been particularly mild ones if merely showing 
them the whip made them move.^'’ I think I may also very 
well leave that question to be answered by some other 
practitioner. 
I have adopted the plan of not cutting the frogs or soles of 
my horses^ feet for more than twenty years; but there are 
some very weak and flat feet with very large frogs, which 
require cutting. I paid Mr. Fleming a visit at Chatham in 
February last, and I feel it right to state that I never saw 
feet in a more natural and healthy state than those of the 
horses of the Boyal Engineers under his charge. They were 
all excellently shod, and those shod on the Charlier system 
were particularly w^ell done, and the horses appeared to go 
w'ell in those narrow rims of iron let in level with the soles. 
I conclude, however, from an inspection of the horses of a 
battery of artillery which passed through Bath last week, 
that Mr. Fleming’s plan of not paring the soles and frogs is 
not general in the army. In my opinion, it would be doing 
* In the last ten years I have paid many visits to Alfort, and have 
always found Professors Bouley and Reynal most obliging and walling to show 
and explain any matter of interest. 1 have been much interested with 
what I have seen there. The operations are very numerous, and conducted 
skilfully and systematically, so that the students have an opportunity of 
seeing, and operating for themselves. The French veterinarians, in my 
opinion, are as a body far before us in a scientific point of view. 
