238 DISEASES OF HORSES. 



of the shoe or from something getting between the shoe and tne 

 borny heel. A shoe toe /bng worn is a very common cause, and a 

 still more frequent one if tha clubbing the heels of the shoe ; neithei 

 4S it necessary to the production of corns that the shoe itself should 

 press :n the sole ; but they are equally produced when the outer 

 horn of the heels or of the bars, is the immediate offending part- 

 rendered so by two luxuriant growth, by unequnl wear, or by 

 secondary pressure from the shoe, or by gravel working in. It is 

 the fleshy sole itself that is bruised, from which a speck of extra- 

 vasated blood follows, and if not immediately relieved it gathers, or 

 the part becomes habitually defective, and instead of forming healthy 

 horn, it always afterwards forms a spongy substance of extreme 

 sensibility, and thus always is liable to produce pain and lameness 

 when exposed to pressure. 



102, The treatment of corns is seldom difficult or uns^jiccessful 

 at their first appearance, but afterwards it can be only palliative. 

 Blaine directs that by means of a fine drawing knife every portion 

 of diseased horn should be pared away, and the extravasation under- 

 neath likewise. Having done this, he advises to introduce some 

 butter of antimony into the opening, to place over this some tow, 

 which should be kept in its place by means of a splint. If any 

 contraction of the heels l« present it will materially assist the cure 

 to lower them, and .o iiin the hoof a little around the quarters, and 

 afterwards to put on a shoe without heels opposed to the corn, or 

 a shoe chambered opposite the weak part: or a bar shoe may bo 

 applied so framed as completely to leave tlie heel untouched. Intro- 

 duce the butter of antimony once or twice more, with the interval 

 of two days between, and then turn the horse out to grass ; in about 

 six weeks time the foot will be sound. The treatment of corns, 

 when of long standing, does not,, materially differ : for although 

 they are never wholly eradicated, they may be rendered but little 

 troublesoL^e. The diseased part must be carefully pared out at each 

 shoeing, anc «uch a shoe put on as will completely free the heel 

 from pressurb 



103. Running thrush is always a dangerous disease, and few 

 errors m horse management are more glaring than the common one 

 of supposing they are necessary to carry off humours. If less food, 

 more exercise, cool stables, and dry standings, were substituted to 

 correct the fulness, instead of thrushes, which invariably contract 

 the feet whenever they continue any length of time, it would save 

 many valuable horses. To the cure, begin by cleaning out all the 

 hssu"e$i of the frog from loose ragged hern, and thun introduce to 



