DISEASES OF TMK FKTI.OCK. AN'KI.K, AN'I) FOOT. 423 



is removed fi-oiu the heels. In suppurative corn thr huneness sul>«i(le.s 

 or entii-ely disappetirs as soon as the abscess opens. When the injured 

 tissues are nnu'h inHanied, as may hapi)en in severe and recent case^, 

 the heel of the affected side, or even the whole foot, is hot and tender 

 to pressure. In dry corn and in most chronic cases all evidences of 

 local fever are often wanting:. It is in these cases that the patient 

 goes well when newly .shod, for the smith cuts aw-ay the sole over the 

 seat of injury until all pressure by the shoe is removed and lowers 

 the heels so that concussion is reduced to a mininnnn. 



If a corn is suspected, the foot should be examined for increased 

 sensibility of the inside heel. Tappin<2: the heel of the shoe with a 

 hammer and ^jraspin^ the wall and bar between the jaws of pincers 

 with moderate pressure will cause more or less flinching if the dis- 

 ease is present. For fui-ther evidence the shoe is removed and the 

 heel cut away with the drawing knife. As the horn is pared out, not 

 only the sole in the angle is found discolored, but in many instances 

 the insensible lamina' of the bar and wall adjacent are also stained 

 with the escaped blood. In moist and suppui-ative corns this discolor- 

 ation is less marked than in dry corn and even may be entirely want- 

 ing. In the.se cases the horn is soft, often white, and stringy oi- mealy, 

 as seen in pumiced sole resulting from founder. When the whole 

 thickness of the sole is discolored and the horn dry and brittle it is 

 generally evidence that the corn is an old one and that the exciting 

 cause has existed continuously. A moist corn differs from the dry 

 one in that the injury is more severe. The parts affected are more or 

 le>s inflamed, and the horn of the sole in the -angle is undermined by a 

 citron-colored fluid, which often permeates the injured sole and 

 lauiinae, causing the horn to l>ecome somewhat spongy. 



A suppurative corn differs from others in that the inflammation 

 ends in suppuration. The pus collects at the point of injury and 

 finally escapes by working its way between the sensitive and insensi- 

 ble lamiiue to the top of the hoof, where an opening is made between 

 the wall and conmary band at or neai- the heels. This is the most 

 serious form of corns, for the reason that it may induce gangrene of 

 the ])lantar cushion, cartilaginous (piittor, or caries of the coflin bone. 



Treafjmnt. — Since a diversity of opinion exi.sts as to what measures 

 nuist be adopted for the radical cure of corns, the author will advise 

 the use of those which have proved most efficient in his hands. 



As in all other troubles, the cause must be discovered, if pos.sil)le, 

 and removed. In the great majority of cases the .shoeing is at fault. 

 While .sudden changes in the method of shoeing are not advisable, 

 it may be s;iid that all errors, either in the pieparation of tin' foot, 

 in the con.struction of the shoe, or in its ap|>lication may very 

 pioi)erly be corrected at any time. Ciinnnstances may at times make 

 it imperative that .shoes be worn whiih are not fi'ee from (ibjectious: 



