[Illustration: FIG. 43.--This foot shows the changes in shape and
appearance of wall and sole occurring in chronic laminitis.]

_The treatment_ of the inflammation is as follows: The removal of the shoes
and the necessary trimming of the foot should be practised early in the
inflammation; the horse should be placed in a roomy box-stall that is well
bedded with cut straw; during the cool weather it may be necessary to
blanket the animal; if the weather is hot and the flies annoy the patient,
the stall should be darkened; in serious cases, and when the animal is
heavy, it may be advisable to use a sling; hot water fomentations are to be
preferred; the patient may be stood in a tub of hot water or heavy woollen
bandages that have been dipped in hot water and wrung, out as dry as
possible may be applied to the feet; the temperature of the water should be
no hotter than can be comfortably borne with the hands; the results of this
treatment depend on the faithfulness with which it is carried out; a
poultice of ground flaxseed should be applied to the foot at night, or
during the interval between the foot-baths. This treatment may be continued
until the acute inflammation has subsided.

If the animal is inclined to eat, it should be fed very little roughness
and grain. Soft feeds are to be preferred, and one quart of linseed oil
given as a physic. After a period of from ten days to three weeks,
depending on the tenderness of the feet, the wall at the toe should be
shortened, the sole trimmed if necessary, flat shoes rolled at the toe
placed on the feet, and the animal allowed to exercise a short time each
day in a lot or pasture. As the hoof grows rapidly, it is necessary to trim
it carefully every three or four weeks and replace the shoes. The wall at
the toe should be kept short, but excessive thinning of the sole should be
avoided.