ation sufficient to warrant calling it
laminitis. The seat of greatest congestion will always be found in the
neighborhood of the toe, because of the increased vascularity of that
part, and, although at times it is limited to the podophyllous tissue
alone, any or all parts of the keratogenous membrane may be affected by
the congestion and followed finally by inflammation.
_Acute._--In the acute form of laminitis the symptoms may all develop
rapidly, or it may commence by the appearance of a little soreness of
the feet which in 24 or 48 hours develops into a well-marked case. This
peculiarity of development is due to one of two causes. Either the
congestion is general, but takes place slowly, or it begins in one or
more points and gradually spreads throughout the laminae. These acute
cases generally run their course in from one to two weeks. Usually a
culmination of the symptoms is reached, if the patient is properly
treated, in from three to five days; then evidences of recovery are
discernible in favorable cases. The lameness improves, the other
symptoms gradually subside, and eventually health is regained. It is in
these cases that a strong tendency to disorganization of a destructive
character exists; hence it is we see so many recover imperfectly, with
marked structural changes permanently remaining.
_Subacute._--Subacute laminitis is most often seen as a termination of
the acute form, although it may exist independent of or precede an acute
attack. It is characterized by the mildness of its symptoms, slow
course, and moderate tissue changes. It may be present a long time
before any pathological lesions result other than those found in the
acute form, and when these changes do take place they should be viewed
rather as complications.
_Chronic._--Chronic laminitis is a term used by many to designate any of
the sequelae of the acute and subacute forms of this disease. Pure,
chronic inflammation of the laminae is not very commonly met with, but is
most frequent in horses that have long done fast track work. They have
"fever in the feet" at all times and are continually sore, both
conditions being aggravated by work. Like chronic inflammation of other
parts, there is a strong tendency to the development of new connective
tissue which, by its pressure upon the blood vessels, interferes with
nutrition. Wasting of the coffin bone and inflammation of its covering
with caries is not unusual. The continued fever and impa
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