MANUAL FOR ARMY HORSESHOERS. 83 



In mild cases the animal may be shod and kept at work, using a bar 

 shoe and heavy leather pad and packing the foot tightly with tar 

 and oakum. Mild cases readily yield to treatment, but severe cases 

 of long standing require a long time to effect a cure. 



BRUISES OF THE SOLE — CORNS. 



80. These are quite common and usually show reddish areas. A 

 coim is a bruise in the angle formed by the wall and bar. 



Causes. — Stepping on stones and"^other hard objects; pressure of 

 shoe on sole, due to lowering the wall too much; shoes too short or 

 left on too long, in which case the wall overgrows the heels of the 

 shoe; heels lowered too much; rapid work on hard roads, e-sj^ecially 

 when the feet are hard and dry, causing a great amount of concussion 

 and subjecting the foot to injury. In the unshod foot the bar may 

 curl inward and press upon the sole. 



Symptoms.— Lameness may or may not be present. The horn 

 is discolored, and where bruises and inflammation are severe great 

 lameness is shown and suppuration may occur. When pus is present 

 it burrows into the surrounding soft structures, causing a separation 

 of the horn and making its exit at the heel or around the coronet. 

 This usually greatly relieves the pain and lameness. 



Treatment. — Locate the seat of injury and its probable cause 

 by removing the shoe, cleaning the foot and thoroughly testing it 

 with the hoof tester or pincers. Level the foot if uneven, and. if no 

 lameness is present, reshoe, first removing the pressure over the 

 diseased area by trimming or lowering the horn; protect and soften 

 the horn by the use of a leather pad. tar and oakum. If lameness is 

 present, reduce the inflammation by soaking the foot in cold water or 

 by poulticing it. This treatment usually gives prompt relief. If 

 the lameness increases, pus is probably forming and the underrun 

 horn must be removed, exposing the sensitive structures and pro- 

 viding for perfect drainage. Antiseptic washings and dressings 

 should now be used, the diseased parts being kept clean and pro- 

 tected. A good treatment is carried out as follows: First soak the 

 foot in a tub or pail of creolin solution for a quarter to half an hour, 

 then apply cottcn saturated with tincture of- iodine and cover with a 

 foot bandage. Repeat dressing twice daily, ^^^len pus formation 

 ceases and lameness is no longer present, shoe with a bar shoe, after 

 removing all pressure, and apply a leather pad, tar and oakum. 



