of
time, would, no doubt, excite the disease in the fore feet, as explained
by D'Arboval.
_All four feet._--Laminitis of all four feet is but uncommonly met with.
The author has seen but three such cases. In all these the position
assumed was nearly normal. All the feet were slightly advanced, and
first one, then another, momentarily raised from the ground and
carefully replaced, this action being kept up almost continually during
the time the animal remained standing. The suffering is most acute, the
appetite lost, and, although the patient lies most of the time, the
temperature remains too high. The pulse and respirations are greatly
accelerated, the body covered with sweat, and bed sores are unpleasant
accompaniments.
_Course._--The course which laminitis takes varies greatly in different
cases, being influenced more or less by the exciting cause, the animal's
previous condition, the acuteness of the attack, and the subsequent
treatment. The first symptoms rarely exhibit themselves while the animal
is at his work, although we occasionally see the gait impaired by
stumbling, the body covered with a profuse sweat, and the respirations
become blowing in character as premonitions of the oncoming disease;
but, as a rule, nothing amiss with the animal is noted until he has
stood for some time after coming in from work, when, in attempting to
move him, he is found very stiff. Like all congestions, the early
symptoms usually develop rapidly; yet this is not always the case, for
often there appears to be no well-defined period of congestion, the
disease seemingly commencing at a point and gradually spreading until a
large territory is involved in the morbid process.
_Simple congestion._--Those cases of simple congestion of the laminae,
which we erroneously call laminitis, are rapidly developed, the symptoms
are but moderately severe, and but one to three days are required for
recovery. There are no structural changes and but a moderate exudate.
This is rapidly reabsorbed, leaving the parts in the same condition as
they were previous to the attack. If the congestion has been excessive,
a rupture of some of the capillaries will be found, a condition more
liable to exist if the animal is made to continue work after a
development of symptoms has begun.
True, the majority of these last-described cases prove to be the
laminitis in fact, yet the congestion may pass away and the extravasated
blood be absorbed without inflamm
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