1066 



DISEASES OF THE FOOT. 



in unshod feet, the idea obtained currency that they were always 

 produced by the pressure of the shoe. For this reason farriers often 

 endeavour to prevent the injury by rasping away the inner wall, 

 so that it no longer touches the shoe. The result shows, however, that 

 this idea is erroneous, for corns occur just the same, and, in addition, 

 a sand-crack often forms at the coronet. It therefore seems clear 

 that the heel should be supported by the shoe ; if not, it descends, 



and leads to rupture of the 

 sensitive laminae. The attempt 

 to remedy the evil thus leads 

 to its propagation. 



Prognosis. Although corns 

 are so common that their absence 

 in animals working in large 

 towns is almost an exception, 

 yet they give rise to much 

 trouble. Severe consequences, 

 however, only follow when the 

 point of origin becomes in- 

 fected ; and as infection almost 

 always takes place from without, 

 it is of the greatest importance 

 to protect the bruised spot 

 against the entrance of bacteria. 

 Sometimes, however, the horn is 

 so defective that no precautions 

 seem sufficient to prevent re- 

 peated bruising, and then the 

 animals suffer habitually, and 

 little hope of cure can be given. 

 Suppuration, when once established, may be followed by any of the 

 above-described complications, especially in cases of deep podo- 

 dermatitis. Swelling of the coronet points to the later appearance 

 of quittor, whilst severe lameness, pain on dorsal flexion of the toe, 

 and swelling between the bulbs of the heel suggest purulent suppura- 

 tion of the fibro-fatty frog and infection of the flexor pedis perforans 

 aponeurosis. 



Bad conformation and work on stone-paved streets naturally lessen 

 the chances of complete recovery. 



Treatment follows the principles above indicated (see treatment of 

 " Acute Inflammation of the Podophyllous Membrane "). The 

 immediate cause must if possible be removed, and the shoeing receive 



Fig. 568.— Showing the lateral cartilage 

 and its relations, a, Us suffragiois ; b, os 

 corona; : c, OS pedis ; '/. lateral cartilage; 

 e, os naviculare ; /. pastern-joint ; 

 <j, coronet -joint ; h, horny wall ; i, 

 sensitive laminae. 



