CORN. 487 



two effusions may be present together, producing a sero-puru- 

 lent discbar^fe. This condition of corn is commonly owing 

 either to neglect or to aggravation of the primary stage of the 

 disease. The horse, though evincing tenderness or even lame- 

 ness, has not had, as he ought to have had, his ailing foot 

 attended to ; and the consequence is, abscess of the part, which 

 would but for this negligence or aggravation have remained in 

 the state of ecchymosis. When this is the case, the shoe is 

 no sooner pulled off, and the pincers, or even the thumb of 

 the smith, applied to the site of the corn, than the animal 

 flinches to that degree that he quite rears up with the exqui- 

 site pain the pressure gives him : a token at once expressive 

 to the veterinarian of the true nature of the case. He feels 

 quite assured there is matter present, and he insists on the 

 corn being pared until vent be given to it. In doing this, dis- 

 covery is commonly made of the pus having, to a greater or less 

 extent, under-run the horny sole at the angle ; which renders it 

 imperative for the horn to be taken away wherever it is found 

 detached, leaving exposed the surface of the living tissue, more 

 or less altered in character according as the matter has been long 

 pent up or not, and according as the corn be a recent or a 

 chronic and relapsed one. Indeed, when matter has been long 

 confined from being unable to obtain any outlet below, it on 

 occasions makes its way upwards, contrary to gravity, and breaks 

 forth at the coronet, and in this manner the case turns to a quittor. 

 Lameness is commonly the symptom which leads to the 

 discovery of corn. A horse is found going gingerly upon one 

 or both fore feet, or actually lame ; and this induces an examin- 

 ation of his lame foot, when the heel of the shoe is detected 

 pressing upon the sole in the seat of corn. Or, the lameness 

 may arise from the horn growing thick and hard over an old 

 corn. Or, lameness on a sudden may become excessive ; in 

 which case we may expect, knowing the horse has corns, to 

 ■find a festered one. Lameness arising from corn is known to be 

 at once relievable either by removal of the exciting cause, as in 

 the case of the pressing shoe ; or by the liberation given to 

 the matter collected, as in the case of festered corn ; though, 



