490 CORN. 



to relieve the corn — or corns if there be two — by bearing but 

 comparatively lightly upon the junction places of the wall and 

 bars, parts so immediately related to the corn-places. In fact, 

 in a case where an ordinary shaped shoe does not relieve ten- 

 derness of going, a bar-shoe, of all others, is the most likely to 

 answer. Be the horse, however, shod how he may, no shoe 

 should be worn by him longer than he appears to go soundly, 

 or at least painlessly, in it : from the moment any lamenses or 

 even tenderness becomes apparent, more than existed formerly 

 or than we have reason under the circumstances to expect, the 

 shoe ought to be taken off, and the foot re -inspected. The shoe 

 may be found pressing unduly upon parts near to the corn, or 

 even upon the corn itself, or some dirt or gravel may have 

 worked its way underneath the heel of the shoe, and that may 

 be irritating the corn. When this latter accident seems likely 

 to happen, some soft stopping, mingled with tow, inserted un- 

 derneath the shoe, so as to give a cover to the corn place, will 

 be found of advantage ; and now and then, a leathern or gutta- 

 percha sole under the shoe has been found serviceable. Such 

 expedients as these must, of course, depend for their employ- 

 ment on circumstances, and be regulated by the judgment of the 

 veterinary practitioner. All that I have hitherto said on treat- 

 ment supposes that the horse having corns is to be returned — 

 or rather is in a condition to be returned — to his work. This 

 may not, however, be the case. 



The Corn may not admit of return to Work. — The 

 horn may prove to be under-run, serous or purulent fluid may 

 have collected, and this will necessitate the exposure of the 

 morbid secreting surface. Instead of being simply thinned by 

 paring, the horn in the corn-place will have to be cut out with 

 the drawing-knife — re-union of horn once detached being what 

 never happens — so as to admit of dressings being applied to 

 the exposed tissues. Generally, however, in such cases it is 

 advisable, particularly if there exist any signs of inflammation, 

 to wrap the foot in a poultice for a day or more, according as 

 the corn shews a disposition to assume healthy action, and to 

 continue the poultice so long as the secretion of horn thrives 



