ients and, no doubt, for some good reason. It has been suggested as
an explanation that when the animal gets upon his feet after lying for a
time the suffering is so greatly augmented that the memory of this
experience deters him from an attempted repetition. If this were true,
the horse with the first attack must necessarily make the experiment
before knowing the after effects of lying down, yet many remain standing
without even an attempt at gaining this experimental knowledge.
The most-favored position of the animal when down is on the broadside,
with the feet and legs extended. While in this position the general
symptoms greatly subside; the respirations and pulse become almost
normal; the temperature falls and the perspiration dries. It is with
difficulty that he is made to rise. When he attempts it he gets up
rapidly and "all of a heap," as it were, shifting quickly from one to
the other foot until they become accustomed to the weight thrown upon
them. Occasionally a patient will get up like a cow, rising upon the
hind feet first. Although enforced exercise relieves the soreness to
some extent, it is but temporary, for after a few minutes' rest it
returns with all its former severity.
_Both hind feet._--When only both hind feet are affected, they are,
while standing, maintained in the same position as when only the fore
ones are the subjects of the disease, but with an entirely different
object in view. Instead of being there to receive weight, they are so
advanced that the heels only may receive what little weight is
necessarily imposed on them; the fore feet at the same time are placed
well back beneath the body, where they become the main supports; the
animal standing, as Williams describes it, "all of a heap."
Progression is even more difficult now than when the disease is confined
to the anterior extremities. The fore feet are dubiously advanced a
short distance and the hind ones brought forward with a sort of kangaroo
hop that results in an apparent loss of equilibrium which the animal is
a few moments in regaining. The general symptoms, or, in other words,
the degree of suffering, seem more severe than when the disease affects
the fore feet alone. The standing position is not often maintained, the
patient seeking relief in recumbency. This fact is easily understood
when we consider how cramped and unnatural is the position he assumes
while standing and, if it were maintained for any considerable length
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