FIG. 117.—LONGITUDINAL SECTION OF A FOOT WITH LAMINITIS OF FOURTEEN DAYS' STANDING. a, The depression at the coronet caused by the dropping of the bony column within the horny-box: b, a portion of the sensitive sole pushed downwards and forwards by the descending os pedis.
With the descent of the os pedis we get in many cases a penetration of the horny sole (see Fig. 117), leading always to serious displacement of the sensitive sole (see Fig. 117, b), and often to caries of the exposed bone.
The backward displacement of the os pedis may be accounted for in two ways. Firstly, the greater vascularity of the membrane covering its front leads to a greater outpouring of inflammatory fluid in that particular position. Here, therefore, loss of adhesion with the wall is greatest, while into the cavity so formed is poured a large quantity of a fluid that is practically incompressible. The os pedis must be pushed backwards. Secondly, the manner in which the animal distributes his weight—namely, upon the heels—is calculated to aid in the bone's backward movement, for with his feet in this position tension upon the extensor pedis is relaxed, while that upon the flexor perforans is greatly increased.
(c) Suppuration.—Should the animal survive the pain and exhausting calls made upon his system by the accompanying fever of the foregoing conditions, the case ends either in resolution or suppuration. When suppuration occurs it is found, as a rule, at the sole, leading to almost entire separation of the sensitive and horny structures. The pain, if possible, is even worse than in either of the foregoing stages, and relief for the suffering patient is only obtainable by the natural exit of the pus at the coronet, or by giving it escape with the knife at the sole. As a rule, suppuration in laminitis is rare, and then only occurs when the disease has been of some several days' duration. It has been the author's experience, however, to meet with it in a case but three days' old. This particular animal had laminitis restricted to the hind-feet. The condition was diagnosed and pus liberated at the sole of one foot during the third day of the lameness. The animal was cast on the fourth day, and pus obtained from the sole of the opposite foot.
Complications.—In a moderate case, carefully treated, laminitis terminates at the end of three or four days in resolution. The general symptoms of fever gradually subside, the appetite returns, and the walk becomes easier. Cases thus terminating fortunately leave behind them no change of serious importance, either in the sensitive tissues or in the horny envelope. Should resolution, however, be longer delayed, then the case, although eventually terminating successfully so far as soundness in gait is concerned, leaves more or less evidence behind in the shape of rings about the wall and alterations in the build of the sole.
When the happy ending of rapid resolution is denied us, then, in addition to the condition we have described as suppuration, we may meet with one or other of the following complications:
(a) Metastatic Pneumonia.—This complication is not uncommon, and, when occurring, more often than not ends fatally. It may be accounted for indirectly by the greater work the lungs are called upon to perform in carrying out the increased number of respirations occasioned by the general fever and pain, and directly by the poisonous materials circulating in the blood-stream.
(b) Metastatic Colic.—This may be either a subacute obstruction of the bowel or an enteritis accompanied by an offensive purge.
A striking case of the former is related in the Veterinary Journal (vol. xvi., p. 180) by H. Thompson, of Aspatria. Here no evacuation of the bowels occurred for three days, and the pains of laminitis were added to by the usual pains of intestinal obstruction.