The first indications—food untouched, glaring eyes, etc.—represent only excessive agony; the position of the body is symptomatic. The hind feet are thrust under the body in order to take the weight from the front, or the diseased organs; the fore feet are thrust forward and the head held erect, that the inflamed parts may be as much as possible beyond the center of gravity. In this attitude the wretched quadruped will stand, its sides heaving and its flesh creeping with the pain within the hoofs, and with the fire that burns within the blood. The teeth are occasionally heard to grind against each other; expressive sounds sometimes issue from the throat, and partial perspirations burst forth upon the body; it is a horrible picture of the largest agony!
ACUTE LAMINITIS, OR FEVER IN THE FEET.
The fore feet are mostly the seat of the disorder; all four may be involved, but the author has only witnessed the two front affected. The implication of the others are rather recorded wonders than general facts. The writer, in his professional experience, has met no one to whom a case of laminitis involving all four hoofs has been submitted.
Everything concerning laminitis is in confusion. It is not yet authoritatively ascertained whether horses lie down or stand up—whether the shoes should be taken off or left on—and what kind of treatment it is proper to adopt. Any dispute about general facts pronounces both parties wrong; it assures us that the experience of the disputants is somewhat limited. The circumstances cannot be very marked where the recognition is not universal: the treatment can only be not confirmed, because none attended with conspicuous benefit has been proposed.
Horses do often lie down in laminitis; but they more generally stand. When down, they should be suffered to remain; and when up, the first thing done should be the employment of slings. Place the cloth under the belly with the least possible noise; the man the horse is accustomed to, with orders to soothe the animal when alarm is excited, should be stationed at the head. The men who are arranging the slings should pause on the slightest sign of fear, and only resume their labor when confidence is restored. The ropes, however, must not be drawn tight and fixed. The ends of the cords should, by means of two extra pulleys, be carried to some distance from the animal. To the end of each rope ought to be fastened a stout ring, and on this, by means of hooks, weights should be suspended. As the weights are added, the man should caress the sufferer till sufficient counterpoise be attached to take the principal bearing from the feet without offering much obstacle to the breathing.
A HORSE IN SLINGS, WITH THE FORE FEET IN HOT WATER, FOR ACUTE LAMINITIS.
With regard to the shoes, we should first soften the hoof by allowing the feet to soak in warm water in which a portion of any alkali has been dissolved. The slings being applied, the fore feet are to be placed in a trough of hot, soft water, and allowed to remain there till the hoof is quite pulpy. Then one foot is to be gently raised and the trough partially removed. All this must be done very quietly—not a word being spoken—and all operation suspended at the appearance of the smallest alarm. The man at the head must not for an instant quit his post.
The foot being released from the water, a sharp-pointed knife is to be employed and the horn cut, so as to free every nail, till the shoe drops off; but the iron should not be allowed to clatter on the ground.