1064 DISEASES OF THE FOOT. 



If cellulitis has already appeared, dispersal will be favoured by 

 warm baths, to which it is well to add some antiseptic. The appearance 

 of distinct fluctuation should be the sign for immediately opening the 

 abscess, though considerable bleeding must be expected, and almost 

 always occurs. After discharge of the pus, the cavity should be 

 cashed out with a disinfectant, and tampons inserted to check 

 bleeding. The tampons can be kept in position for twenty-four 

 hours by a bandage, the pressure of which will increase their styptic 

 action, but care must be taken not to apply it so tightly as to produce 

 necrosis. Tor the next few days the abscess cavity must be repeatedly 

 and carefully syringed with disinfectants, and precautions taken 

 against retention of pus ; a drainage-tube may be necessary. 



IV.— CORNS. 



The name " corn " is applied to the effects of bruising or com- 

 pression of the keratogenous membrane of the posterior portions 

 of the foot. As a rule, the injury has its seat in the sensitive sole 

 between the bar and wall, but sometimes the sensitive laminae of 

 the bars are affected. Three varieties, dry, moist, and suppurating 

 corn, were described by Girard, whose classification of corns is still 

 recognised in practice. 



Dry corn consists in capillary haemorrhage at the inner surface 

 of the horn, resulting from bruising or compression of the sensitive 

 membrane. Moist corn is marked by exudation arising from limited 

 pododermatitis, which may be superficial or deep ; and suppurating 

 corn represents an advanced stage of the first or second condition, 

 in which the injured part has become infected with pyogenic and 

 other bacteria. 



The blood in most cases is extravasated between the sensitive 

 villi or papillae and the hoof, the inner surface of which it saturates, 

 imparting to the newly-formed horn-cells a red colour (ecchymosis). 

 The red spots thus formed sometimes appear as fine points if bleeding 

 be confined to isolated papillae, but generally as large red stains, 

 which are only seen later when cutting out the foot — that is, after 

 the coloured layers of horn have reached the wearing or ground 

 surface of the hoof. With the age of the corn, the stain varies in 

 colour and in depth. The more superficial the stain the older the 

 corn. Deep staining indicates recent bruising, and when the whole 

 thickness of the horn is ecchymosed the extravasation must have 

 continued for some time. The colour of the stain may be bright red, 

 dark red, black, or yellow, and when bruising has been repeated 



