[Illustration:  FIG. 115.—­HOOF TORN FROM THE FOOT BY ACCIDENT.]

’During the last week in October the mare, having her foot protected with a bar shoe plated at the bottom, and so formed as to open without necessity of removing the shoe, in order to facilitate the applications of the tinctures, was put to light work, which has since been gradually increased, and she now performs her usual labour equal to any other horse.

’The growth of the wall or crust and insensitive laminae is not yet quite complete, nor is the sole, there being wanting about an inch of the horny substance of it, the entire completion of which I should rather doubt, as I mentioned in my former communication that the sensitive laminae and a small portion of the sole were lacerated, and it is in these parts that the imperfections exist.

’The yet imperfectly-formed wall not admitting of the insertion of nails all around it, the shoe is held on partly by nails and partly by a strap attached to it bound round the coronet.’[A]

[Footnote A:  Veterinary Record, vol. iv., p. 182 (B.  Cartledge).]

3.  ’This case is related by Mr. A. Rogerson, F.R.C.V.S.  It occurred to an animal regularly engaged in shunting, and happened through the corner of the shoe becoming “trapped” between a line of metal and the wheel of a truck.  It is particularly interesting on account of the photograph accompanying it, and which we here reproduce in Fig. 115.

’The photograph shows plainly the manner in which the holding of the “clinches” on the left side of the hoof has resulted in drawing it off from the foot.  Had these clinches, as Mr. Rogerson suggests, been left unfastened, then the accident in all probability would not have occurred.  The animal was destroyed.’[A]

[Footnote A:  Ibid., vol. xiii., p. 2.]

CHAPTER IX

INFLAMMATORY AFFECTIONS OF THE KERATOGENOUS APPARATUS

A. ACUTE.

ACUTE LAMINITIS.

Definition.—­The term ‘laminitis’ is used to indicate a spontaneous and diffuse inflammation of the whole of the sensitive structures of the foot, more particularly the sensitive laminae.  Usually it occurs in the two front feet, often in all four, and occasionally in the hind alone.

Causes.—­In dealing with the causes of laminitis, we will first dispose of those coming under the heading of traumatic.  Correctly speaking, however, lesions of the laminae thus occurring do not present the same symptoms, nor run an identical course with the disease we now purpose describing, and for which we would prefer to entirely reserve the term ‘laminitis.’  The fact, however, that traumatic causes are detailed in other works on the same subject compels us to give them mention here.

Strictly traumatic causes giving rise to a limited inflammation of the sensitive laminae are violent blows upon the foot, either purely accidental, or self-inflicted by violent kicking.