Laminitis, Inflammation of the Feet or Founder
This is one of the most frequent diseases of the horse, and one in which the resources of my Homeopathic Remedies are very efficient. The sensible lamina or fleshy plates on the front and sides of the coffin-bone, are, like all other vascular structures, very liable to inflammation, particularly from violence or long continued action of the part. Hence, standing long in one position, as in sea-voyages; battering or bruising the feet in severe or long journeys; sudden changes from heat to cold, or from cold to heat, acting directly oil the feet; standing in snow or cold water after a journey, are the more common causes of this disease. It sometimes occurs as a mere transition of the disease from some other part, and occasionally from excess of food or indigestible food, or food when heated. Many cases of so called Founder are really only attacks of Acute Rheumatism; hence consult what is said on that disease, and compare the two chapters for a better understanding of the subject.
Symptoms.—The disease generally begins with a shivering, shaking chill; the flanks heave; the breathing becomes quick and labored; the pulse full and frequent; the horse shifts his feet from one place to another; lies down and rises frequently, but does not paw the ground nor kick his belly; he will sometimes place his lips on the fevered feet, as if to tell where his pain is; he places his hind legs under him, as if to take the weight of his body from the fore-feet; he moans or groans from the severity of the pain and at last lies down, unable to stand upon the inflamed feet. The feet are intensely hot and painful. If one foot is taken up, he can scarcely stand upon the other and may tumble down. He does not like to get up from the ground, and is moved with difficulty from one place to another. If the disease be not arrested, matter may form inside the hoof, which even may be thrown off.
The disease may exist in a more chronic form, coming on by degrees, and eventually resulting in the ruin of the horse.
It is more common to see it in a milder form than the first mentioned presenting the following symptoms: The horse is feverish, out of spirits, refuses to eat, cannot raise his limbs without evincing pain, trails his feet along with difficulty; cannot readily be made to go forward, or backward scarcely at all. In the stable, horses bring the four feet near together, and there is no little difficulty in making them relinquish this attitude.
Treatment.—In the more severe cases, the shoes should be removed from the feet, and the hoof pared down until the horn yields to the pressure of the thumb. Give the horse rest, and allow him to lie down, wrap the hoofs in cloths soaked in water, and renew them from time to time. If the disease is from the feet having been battered by long driving or riding, bathing them with Humphreys’ Marvel Witch Hazel will be of great value. In some cases, a cold poultice, made of mashed turnips or carrots, is of excellent service.
The remedy is B.B., of which a dose may be given every three hours, in acute cases. In recent cases, when there is fever, decided lameness and heat of the foot, and indeed in almost every case, you may better begin with A.A., of which give a dose every two hours, and after three or four doses, alternate with B.B., as often as every two hours, and after the force of the disease has abated, the B.B., may be continued alone at increasing intervals, until entire restoration.
When the disease is clearly traceable to over-feeding, the B.B. and J.K., may be alternated from the first, every three or four hours, in doses of fifteen drops.
In case of chronic founder, the B.B. should be given, a dose of fifteen drops, each morning and night, and the treatment continued for some time. An occasional dose of J.K. will be useful as a constitutional intercurrent remedy, and may be given at noon, while the B.B. is given morning and night.