8 July, 1907.] Lameness in Horses. 417 



the foot is hardest on the outside and at tlie extreme end of the heels, the 

 heel of the shoe in the case just described, will, as a rule, be more or less 

 embedded in the comparatively soft horn invaded by it, with the probability 

 of a corn being formed. 



" The use of calkins may cause corns bv localising, on the heels, the 

 effects of concussion with the ground. In some rare cases, corns are 

 produced by the horse treading on a stone or other hard body, which is 

 a result that will very seldom occur if the sole be not ' thinned.' When 

 the ground surface of the foot has been reduced too much, the sole may 

 become bruised at any part pressed upon by the web of the shoe, especially, 

 if the animal is worked at a fast pace and on hard ground. As pre- 

 viously mentioned, some horses have such weak feet that it is almost im- 

 possible to prevent them getting corns bv any system of shoeing ; for in 

 their case, the concussion produced bv the iron on the wall of tne hoof 

 ar the heels, appears, when the animal is worked on hard ground, sufficient 

 to set up an irritable state in the seat of corn, which condition will be 

 manifested by more or less Lameness, even when the characteristic red 

 mark in the horn is not present. 



" Narrow-heeled shoes which rest onlv on the wall at the heels, al- 

 though recommended bv some for the prevention of corns, are not, as far 

 as I have seen, efficient for that purpose ; for, bv taking off the pressure 

 on the bars, they throw too much weight on the wall, and hence are liable 

 to set up irritation in the sensitive sole at the angle between the wall and 

 the bars. If an ordinary shoe is used the web of the shoe at the heels 

 should be broad so that the concussion received from the ground may be 

 distributed over a large surface. In all cases the bars should be pre- 

 served intact. If the animal is peculiarly liable to corns, tlie seat of 

 corn may be slightly eased off." 



Symptoms. — The/ lameness, which consists in a shorty stilty, stumbling 

 step is most apparent on hard roads and increases with exercise. When 

 at rest the animal has a tendency to " point " the foot, with the heel 

 slightly raised, toe resting on ground and limb bent. If there are corns 

 on both feet there is alternate pointing or frequent change of the pointed 

 foot. Although the lameness is not likely to be mistake;n for navicular 

 disease it is perhaps well to mention that, unlike navicular lameness, that 

 from corns increases with exercise. 



Treatment and Prevention. — The spongy bruised horn should be 

 pared away so as to allow any effusion or matter to be discharged. The 

 spot should then be dressed with Friar's balsam, butyr of antimony or 

 other antiseptic and hardening agent. It is essential that pressure should 

 be kept off the part, and to insure this a horse with corns ought to be shod 

 with slippers the heels of which should not extend beyond the quarters 

 (see Fig. 56), or if only one heel is affected then a three-quarter shoe. 

 (See Fig. 55.) In case of a corn discharging matter, after paring, the 

 suppurating surface may be lightly cauterized with a red hot iron and 

 afterwards treated with Stockholm tar, quicklime, carbolic powder or other 

 antiseptic dressing. The parts should be kept dry, and on no account 

 should "stoppings" of cow dung, clay or other softening material be 

 used. 



Laminitis or Founder. 



The word laminitis means literally an inflammation of the laminae or 

 leaf -like structures which cover the sensitive parts of the foot and are 

 interleaved with the horny laminae lining the inner aspect of tTiewall. But, 



6809. O 



