1088 DISEASES OF THE FOOT. 



exhibits all the symptoms of foot-lameness, except those of acute 

 inflammation. When infection is absent and the keratoma is of 

 small size there may be no lameness, which is usually due either 

 to pressure of the new growth on the pedal bone or to inflammation. 



Keratomata, derived from the sensitive laminae, frequently produce 

 chronic inflammation of the latter. In such cases a secretion, which 

 is sometimes watery, sometimes purulent, discharges from the space 

 between the horny and sensitive lamina?. A probe may often be 

 passed to the upper margin of the split, i.e., as far as the upper end 

 of the keratoma. 



Occasionally that portion of the external wall of the hoof corre- 

 sponding to the keratoma is bulged outwards, forming a projection 

 extending from the coronet to the bearing surface. This condition 

 is commonest when the keratoma grows from the coronet ; the 



surface of this protruding part is 



surface of the foot . The peripheral 



Fl ^ p rX rf "^ £ bOTder ° f the so!e the » p resents 



standing coin, a, Horn tumour. an inset or a curve which partly 



encircles the base of the tumour. 

 Prognosis depends principally on the presence or absence of lame- 

 ness, and on the possibility of removing the diseased growth. It is, 

 therefore, important to know whether the keratoma has (1) originated 

 in the coronary region, or (2) from the lower sections of the sensitive 

 lamina?. In the first case, its removal not only offers great difficulty, 

 but enforces a long rest, as the hoof is divided to a considerable extent 

 and a large amount of horn removed. In the second case, the time 

 required for recovery is in proportion to the distance the diseased 

 growth extends upwards. Keratomata, growing from the coronet, 

 generally produce deformity of the outer surface of the wall, which 

 is therefore an unfavourable sign. In many cases a new growth 

 forms even after removal of the first, but this is not invariably the 



Treatment. Unless the growth causes pain and lameness treatment 

 is better abstained from. In shoeing, the portion of the wall below 

 the tumour should be relieved of weight. Sometimes the lameness 

 yields to rest and cold moist applications. Persistent lameness can 



