424 DISEASES t^F THE HOKSE. 



as, for instance, the shoe with a high calk; but in such cases it is 

 considered that the injuries liable to result from the use of calks are 

 less serious than those which are sure to happen for the want of them. 



For a sound foot perfectly formed, a flat shoe, with heels less thick 

 than the toe, and which rests evenly on the wall proper, is the best. 

 In fiat feet it is often necessar}' to concave the shoe as much as possi- 

 ble on the upjier surface, so that the sole may not be pressed upon. 

 If the heels are very low the heels of the shoe may be made thicker. 

 If the foot is very broad and the wall light toward the heels, a bar 

 shoe resting upon the frog will aid to pi'ex ent excessive tension upon 

 the soft tissues when the foot receives the weight of the body. A 

 piece of leather placed between the foot and shoe serves largely to 

 destroy concussion, and its use is absolutely necessary on some ani- 

 mals to enable them to work. 



Last among the preventive measiu'es may be mentioned those which 

 serve to maintain the suppleness of the hoof. The dead liorn upon 

 the surface of the sole not only retains moisture for a long time, but 

 protects the living horn beneath from the efl'ects of evaporation ; for 

 this reason the sole should be pared as little as possible. Stuffing the 

 feet with flaxseed meal, wet clay, or other like substances, or damp 

 dirt floors or damp bedding of tanbark, gi'eas}' hoof ointments, etc., 

 are all means Avhich may be used to keep the feet from l)ecoming too 

 dry and hard. 



As to the curative measures which are to be adopted much Avill 

 depend upf)n the extent of the injury. If the case is one of chronic 

 dry corn, Avith but slight lameness, the foot should be poulticed for a 

 day or two and the discolored horn pared out, care ])eing taken not to 

 injure the soft tissues. The heel on the affected side is to be lowered 

 until all pressure is removed and, if the patient's labor is required, 

 the foot must be shod Avith a bar shoe or with one having stiff heels. 

 Care niust be taken to reset the shoe before the foot has grown too 

 long, else the shoe Avill no longer rest on the wall, but on the sole 

 and bar. 



I believe in cutting moist corns out. If there is inflammation, 

 cold baths and poultices should be used: when the horn is well 

 softened and the fever allayed, pare out the diseased horn, lightly 

 cauterize the soft tissues beneath, and poultice the ff)ot foi" two or 

 three days. ^'NHien the granulations look red, dress the Avound with 

 oakum balls saturated in a Aveak solution of tincture of aloes or spirits 

 of camphor and apply a roller bandage. Change the dressing every 

 two o)' three days until a firm, healthy layer of ncAv hoi-n covers the 

 wound, when the shoe may be put on, as in dry corn, and the patient 

 returned to Avork. 



In suppuratiA'e corns the loosened hoi-n must be removed, so that 

 the pus may freely escape. If the pus has Avorked a passage to the 



