269 
THE HORSE’S FOOT. 
place upon the heels; and the anterior ones are carried back¬ 
wards, and nearer to the center of gravity, to assist the function 
of the hinder extremities in sustaining the weight of the body. 
In this case, the animal is constantly in side motion, on account 
of the pain he endures. Walking is still more difficult, and 
seems to take place as if the animal was treading on sharp needles, 
as, the more the anterior biped is engaged under the body, the 
more also those legs are loaded with the animal’s weight, and the 
more difficult is their movement. But the anterior legs, contrary 
to their ordinary function (not being adapted to the support of 
an overshare of the body) sustaining now a great part of its 
mass, and moreover, compelled to assist in the act of propulsion, 
necessarily and inevitably become easily fatigued, and too often 
in their turn become likewise affected. Animals suffering with 
posterior laminitis are found occupying the standing position less 
frequently than those whose fore feet are affected. Their un¬ 
steady equilibrium, consequent on their mode of standing, tires 
them more quickly, and compels them to lie down, and once on 
the ground, it is again more difficult to make them rise. They 
may do so readily witli the fore legs, but the posterior extremi¬ 
ties do not always respond to the call. 
The attitude of animals suffering with laminitis of all the 
four feet, is the same as of those which are affected in the fore 
feet only. All four feet are carried in advance of their plumb 
line, the anterior forward, the posterior well under the center of 
gravity. Sometimes the horse has all his feet somewhat apart, in 
order to carry the principal part of the weight on the inner side 
of the foot. The standing posture being painful to either foot, the 
animal lies down most of the time. Locomotion is very difficult 
and staggering, and the animal can only be induced to move by 
severe punishment, and even that cruel resort sometimes fails to 
effect it. If the animal is made to walk, lie does it with the 
greatest difficulty, by reason of the increase of his sufferings, 
brought on by the displacement. His legs, stiff and trembling, 
are raised in a convulsive manner, and brought back to the 
ground only with the greatest hesitation, and upon the heels; 
the constant motion of the lips of the animal being well charac¬ 
teristic of his sufferings. 
