DISEASES OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS. l35 



CORNS, ETC. 



Corns are generally found in the fore foot, but may possibly come 

 on the hind foot, and are oftenest found on the inside of the heel, be- 

 cause it is rather weaker, and the animal throws more weight upon 

 the inside. They are brought on and aggravated by pressure ; they 

 are brought on by the same cause, but are of a different character 

 from those in man. In the horse it is simply a bruise of the sensitive 

 sole, in the angle between the bars and wall, giving rise to extravasa- 

 tion of blood into the horny sole. A change may take place and an 

 imperfect growth of horn result, if the cause is kept up. There are 

 soft, hard, and suppurating corns ; these are just different stages of 

 the disease. If it is a soft corn it is perhaps of long standing. Horses 

 .with weak and flat heels are more liable, but it is quite possible for it 

 to occur in any foot, and if in a strong foot it is more severe and more 

 difficult to treat than if in a poor foot. 



Causes. — Are shoeing and hard work. Shoeing with a seated shoe 

 is a prolific cause. Such a shoe bears upon the heel — the weakest 

 part of the foot — more than any other. The shoe should be made 

 narrow at the heel — paring the foot unnaturally at the heel causes it 



Symptoms. — The horse is more or less lame in most cases, and is 

 generally most lame when the bruise is first produced. There is a 

 tendency to point the foot if only one is affected, if both are affected 

 he shifts from one to the other. He can go pretty well upon soft 

 ground, but hard roads or weight upon the back mcrease the pain. 

 Take up the foot and tap it with a hammer, and it causes pain. The 

 lameness is great if suppuration has taken place. He knuckles at the 

 fetlock, and this may mislead you. You may see redness just by 

 cleaning under the shoe, or you may take it off. An animal may be 

 lame from a corn, and not show any redness. Just riding a horse 

 three or four miles may produce corns if he is not properly shod, and 

 suppuration may take place quickly. 



Treatment. — In many cases it is not necessary to lay the horse off 

 work, especially if used at slow work. Eemove the shoe, cut the heel 

 down to a certain extent, and sometimes the sole, but not into the 

 quick, unless there is suppuration ; and if he is to work, apply a shoe 

 that will prevent pressure — sometimes just the ordinary shoe. A bar 

 shoe, in most cases, is preferable. Keep it on for two or three weeks, 

 so as to throw the weight upon the frog — something like the Good 

 Enough shoes, or that recommended by Prof. Williams. I believe 

 that if horses were shod with shorter shoes, and care taken to take 

 the pressure off the heels, corns would not be so common. If there is 

 much irritation, allay it by poulticing, cold water, etc., and if it is 

 suppurated, cut down and let the matter out, for if you do not, it will 

 make its way to the top of the hoof, and cause quittor. After the 

 irritation has been allayed for some time, then blister around the 

 coronet. Corns are considered an unsoundness, which greatly depre- 

 ciates the value, and may be overlooked in examining for soundness, 

 especially in a strong foot. You may have to cut considerably before 

 you come to the extravasation, which may be very slight, yet sufficient 

 to cause lameness. 



Thrush is an irritation in connection with the frog, giving rise to a 

 purulent and offensive discharge, which is characteristic of thrush. 

 It is oftenest seen in the hind feet, and is due to a slightly diseased 

 state of the venter surface of the frog, particularly in connection with 



