Lameness of the Horse: Veterinary Practitioners' Series, No. 1Lacroix, John Victor
Science
Lameness of the Horse: Veterinary Practitioners' Series, No. 1
Lacroix, John Victor
Horses -- Health; Lameness in horses
The same authority may be profitably quoted in the matter of handling
all cases wherein the revulsive effect of agents which diminish vascular
tension are chiefly indicated or necessary as adjuvants. In this
connection, Campbell says:
The early and vigorous administration of aconitin in laminitis to
its full physiological effect, is more logical. Assuming that
laminitis is due to absorption of harmful products from the
intestinal tract permitted through the deranged functioning of the
organs of digestion, or assuming that it is due to an extension of
the inflammation from the mucosa to the sensitive lamina, or that
it is a reflex from a sudden chilling of the skin, we have in any
of these conditions a disturbed circulation, and aconitin is the
first and foremost of circulation "equalizers." Furthermore, in
laminitis there is an elevation of the temperature, an almost
invariable indication for aconitin. A speedy return of the
temperature to normal, a very marked diminution of the pain and
improved conditions generally, appear coincident with the symptoms
of full physiological effect of aconitin when given in cases of
laminitis, which constitutes assuredly an important part of its
treatment.
[Illustration: Fig. 35--Inferior (convex) surface of Cochran shoe.]
Where lameness is not great as in cases wherein no marked structural
change of the foot has occurred, proper shoeing is very beneficial. By
keeping the heels as low as possible and shoeing without heel calks a
more comfortable position is made possible. Thin rubber pads which do
not elevate the heel are of service in diminishing concussion.
Dr. David W. Cochran of New York City has attained unusual success in
cases of chronic laminitis with dropped sole by the use of a specially
designed shoe.
[Illustration: Fig. 36--Superior surface, showing concavity or bowl, as
formed by the toe and branches of the shoe, as designed by Dr. David W.
Cochran.]
Cochran claims that, not only are horses with dropped soles that would
otherwise have to be put off the streets enabled to do a fair amount of
work by means of this shoe, but that continually wearing it, meanwhile
keeping the convexity of the front of the hoof rasped thin, in time
brings about a marked improvement, and that after some months or years
of use the animals are able to work with ordinary rubber-pad shoes,
provided they are arranged to facilitate breaking over.
From having been successfully used on some race horses of high value,
the Cochran shoe has attained considerable notoriety and is being used
by a number of practitioners. A disadvantage, however, arises from the
fact that few horseshoers other than Doctor Cochran seem able to make
the shoe, the peculiar shape of which offers considerable difficulty in
forging. Concerning the application of the shoe Cochran[32] says:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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