CORN. 485 



some of the delicate bloodvessels distributed through its papil- 

 lary texture, whence results extravasation of blood {ecchymosis) 

 and consequent staining of the portion of horn opposed to the 

 bruised part. This is the ordinary simple origin of corn. It is 

 a rare occurrence in the hind feet, because hind shoes are made 

 long and substantial at the heels, have indeed often calkins 

 worked upon them; and because horses tread with their hind feet 

 with more force upon their toes than upon their heels. The fore 

 feet, on the other hand, are the peculiar, almost exclusive sub- 

 jects of corn, because in them the shoes, being apt to be short 

 and close fitting at the heels, are more liable to eat their way 

 into the sole, and because their soles yield or " descend" more at 

 the angles, in consequence of the fore feet having to support more 

 burthen than the hind, and having in action this greater weight 

 thrown directly upon them. The same reasoning will apply to 

 the inner heel of the fore foot, to account for its being oftener the 

 seat of corn than the outer. Also, from the inner heel of the shoe 

 being usually made a closer fit than the outer, in the case of any 

 dilatation of the hoof it becomes more likely to slide inward upon 

 the sole : added to which, the inner heel is weaker and less able 

 to bear weight than its fellow, although it frequently has to 

 support more. 



That faulty shoeing is the chief and predominant cause of 

 corn cannot any where receive more satisfactory demonstration 

 than in the Army. Corns and quittors and contracted feet 

 were, in former days, as rife in the cavalry as in other places ; 

 whereas, at the present day, these diseases are all but unknown 

 to veterinary surgeons of regiments. And all is owing to an 

 amended practice of shoeing. In the late Professor Coleman's 

 Lecture on the subject, delivered in the year 1809, I find the 

 following passages: — "There are very few horses that are not 

 attacked with corn" — "This is so common a disease that nine 

 hundred horses out of a thousand have it." What would be 

 thought of a veterinary lecturer making such observations at 

 the time present? Proof as this is of the share bad or improper 

 shoeing has had in the production of corn, it is not to be denied 

 that 



Other Causes exist. Contracted feet are known on occa- 



