The management and treatment of the horse in the stable, field, and ...

In the Stable, Field, and on the Road. 91
contains a large excess of fibrine, the urine is excessively
acid, high coloured, and contains much uric acid, and
the remedy of the faculty in such cases is the treatment
by alkalis. . . . Since the system is saturated with
the acid, the most rational treatment is the alkalis,
and it is the most successful—bicarbonate of potass,
nitrate, bitartrate, and acetate. The symptoms of
laminitis are, that the horse stands in a fixed position ; if
confined to the fore feet, the symptoms are of that
peculiar character that they can hardly by any person
of experience be mistaken, " all of a heap" is the old
phrase used to denote the animal's position ; the pulse
is full, frequent, and remarkably hard, the respira-
tion seeming to sympathise with the pulse. The horse
places its hind feet under it in order to take the weight
of its body off the fore feet. It groans and moans
from the severity of the pain which in extreme cases
lays it prostrate. If forced to step forward it most
unwillingly does so ; and its method of accomplishing
it is expressive of no disease save laminitis. The feet
are hot and painful ; if one foot is held up, which in
some cases is very difficult to do, it can scarcely
stand upon the other ; it does not like to get up when
laid down, and if compelled, does so with great
difficulty, and it is very unwilling to move from one
place to another. Throbbing of the pastern arteries
is another well-marked symptom. The mouth is
parched, the mucus membranes vascular and scarlet
in colour ; parts of its body are in a state of tremor,
and it is continually changing the position of its feet in
search of relief. The pain is explained by a larger