176 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 



any appearance of inflammation, bleeding at the toe and 

 opening medicines must be resorted to. 



COKNS 



Cause. — This disease has acquired a name which but ill 

 expresses its nature. It bears but little affinity to corns 

 the human foot ; although, like them, they are the effects 

 of pressure. Instead of being hard as in the human subject, 

 they are thin and very weak, and caused by pressure on the 

 sole in the angle between the bars, as represented, plate 6, 

 ^g. \2, c c. The horn becomes more spongy and softer 

 than at other parts, and it is so sensitive, that upon the 

 slightest pressure the horse indicates that he feels pain. 

 AVhen the foot becomes contracted, that portion of the sole 

 intervening between the external crust which is wiring in 

 and the bars which oppose that contraction are squeezed 

 very severely, which induces inflammation ; and hence it is 

 that feet which are contracted are almost certain to bo 

 afflicted with corns. The efi'ects of this pressure induce a 

 small quantity of extravasated blood, and the horn being 

 secreted in less quantity and of a more spongy texture, 

 it has the tendency to enclose within it this extravasated 

 blood. 



Nothing is more injurious than to allow a shoe to remain 

 too long on, as it is sure to become embedded in the heel 

 of the foot ; consequently the crust grows down on the 

 outside of it, and the bearing is thus thrown on the angular 

 portion of the sole. Continued pressure on the sole is 

 certain to induce inflammation and corns. The shoe being 

 long on, wears and gets loosened at the heels, which admits 

 of gravel between it and the crust, and having accumulated 

 in the angle it naturally insinuates itself into the heel, and 

 produces a sore. 



