DISEASES OF THE FOOT. 499 



In good-shaped feet, the cause, namely pressure, being removed, tlio 

 corn will soon cease to exist. It is, however, essential to bear in mind 

 that though, as a temporary measure, undue pressure may be prevented 

 by paring out and by the use of special shoes, yet the only real means of 

 preventing a recurrence of the disease consists in the maintenance of a 

 good sound unrasped crust and unpared bars, on which a well-fitted shoe 

 of the proper length can rest firmly and securely without undue pressure 

 on the seat of corn. Corns, when treated only by paring out, even 

 though they may by such means be got rid of for a time, generally re- 

 appear. Their permanent removal can only be effected by careful preser- 

 vation of the crust and bars and by attention to the proper length and 

 fitting of the shoes. 



If, however, the cause of the corn, namely pressure, be not removed, 

 the inflammation of the sensitive sole in the above-mentioned angle will 

 increase, and the suppuration or, in other words, the formation of matter 

 will ensue. In such cases it will be necessary to rest the horse and to apply 

 poultices in addition to adopting the treatment recommended above. 



If further neglect takes place, the disease may run into quittor, of 

 which the appropriate treatment will be found in the succeeding part 

 (par. 1011). 



It is a common practice to pare out the seat of corn even in sound feet 

 with the view of preventing pressure on it. Nature, however, in this, as 

 in other cases, is our safest guide. A certain amount of insensitive sole 

 is supplied to this part of the foot, and is useful to it as a protection 

 against bruises, <fec. As in other parts of the sole it will shell off in due 

 time, and therefore should not be removed artificially. Again, the 

 paring out of the seat of corn weakens the crust and bars by depriving 

 them of that lateral support which they would otherwise derive from the 

 presence of the insensitive sole in the angle ; and in so far paring out has 

 a tendency to produce rather than prevent the evil. 



As mentioned in the last sentence, par. 1009, there is a predisposition 

 to corn in flat feet and in feet where the heels wire in. Special care will 

 be needed in shoeing such feet. 



Corns are seldom or never found in the hind feet probably from the 

 greater degree to which the sole is recessed ; and also because the hind 

 feet are rarely, if ever, shod with too short toes. 



1011. Quittor. 



Quittor is a fistulous sore at the coronet. The most common cause is 

 a severe tread on the coronet. It may also arise from a neglected corn 

 or from a bruise or prick of the sole. 



Whatever may have been the cause, the great mischief arises not so 

 much from the original injury as from the tendency of pus or matter 

 generated by the inflammatory action to burrow and form sinuses in the 

 interior of the foot. 



Therefore in all cases our primary aim must be to afford an easy and 

 depending exit to the pus. With this view the crust below the coronet 

 should be rasped very thin. Great care must be taken to avoid injuring 



