45 
structure or locality unused to any extent from disease, and there ai-e instances in 
which fatty degeneration of bloodvessels has followed a similar degeneration of neigh¬ 
boring parts. v 
A sensation of pain in any part may temporarily increase nutrition, but it usually 
suspends it, in a degree. There is but little chance owing to the unyielding character 
of the hoof for hypertrophy of the structures contained within it, except by change 
of position. Neither do we find large exostoses on the surface of the coffin-bone. 
The ordinary changes consist of diminution in bulk of the internal foot and a cor¬ 
responding lessening in size of the hoof. Accompanying such phenomena will always be 
found the morbid conditions of the coffin-bone referred to, including alterations in its 
size, shape and position within the hoof and generally a condition resembling the rarefac- 
tive or ulcerative stage of inflammation, more or less, over all its surface. 
It may be interesting in this connection to refer to some of the terminations of the 
disease known as acute laminitis or founder. 
In most cases so far as we can judge it terminates by resolution without causing 
any alteration of structure and the animal appears to travel as well as ever. In others 
we get an exudate from the laminae, between their surfaces and the horny laminae causing 
a separation between them around the toe. But we find that the inflammation is not con¬ 
fined to the laminae, as shown by the great and permanent injury done to the coffin bone. 
Its ravages here include all the possible forms of absorption and ulceration of its 
exterior surfaces above and below. In many cases there follows a complete breaking 
down or separation of the periosteum from the bone, the space between becoming filled 
with fluids and solid exudates, having no particular character or organization, together 
with sloughing of bone and other adjacent tissues. For this reason and for some others 
hereafter mentioned, I believe the term acute laminitis does not convey a correct idea 
of the disease, being insufficient in itself to thoroughly represent the amount or extent 
of the lesions made by the disease. The term Peditis or even Founder would much 
better express the condition of the parts, known to exist by the most unmistakable and 
indisputable evidences. 
I expressed the opinion that inflammation of this periosteal substance resulted in 
many cases, both in its acute and sub-acute or chronic form, intrinsically from a rheu¬ 
matic diathesis and must be expected to state my reasons therefor. I know very well 
long before this portion of my paper has been read, that many a quiet laugh will have 
been had at my expense and therefore I regret having come before you not fully pre¬ 
pared to maintain the positions I have taken. My convictions of being right, however, 
are firmly rooted and I shall not easily be moved from them except it can be shown 
conclusively that I am wrong. 
My reasons for the rheumatic theory are few and may appear quite crude 
and simple. 
In the first place the periosteum is a fibrous structure, the same most frequently 
affected by rheumatism in man. 
I should not wish to be understood as inclining to the opinion that the periosteum 
is alone of all the tissues of the foot, the one affected, but I do not hesitate to express 
an opinion that it is the primary seat of most of the diseased conditions ; other tissues 
and structures adjacent to it, being affected consequently. 
Secondly in a condition of chronic inflammation of the feet, the symptoms vary in 
acuteness and hold on as tenaciously as in chronic rheumatism in man. Every one 
familiar with the symptoms of early sub-acute inflammation of the feet, knows that an 
animal so affected will appear much freer from pain some days than others and that 
