CORN. 491 



under it. From the moment, however, that the surface of the 

 sore loses its ruby granulating character, or that serosity in 

 place of horn issues from it, the poultice ought to be discon- 

 tinued, and slightly escharotic dressings substituted, such as 

 solutions of the sulphates of copper, zinc, alum, &c., which, 

 should stimulants appear called for, may be succeeded by the 

 compound tincture of benzoin or myrrh. As soon as we have 

 succeeded in permanently drying up the surface, and have 

 established a normal secretion of horn, at the titne that we are 

 still applying dressings to complete the cure, the patient will 

 benefit by being sent to work : pressure upon the corn doing 

 good so long as it is no more than tow or any other soft material 

 will give, providing dirt and wet be kept from it. To this end, 

 after placing upon the corn a dossil of fine tow dipped in the 

 dressing, lay another thick dossil of dry tow over this, then nail 

 the shoe on over all, the broad heel of which will give the re- 

 quisite support. A leathern or gutta percha sole may be used 

 if deemed serviceable. In either case, care should be taken 

 to remove the shoe, during the first week or so, every third or 

 fourth day, in order to ascertain the state of the part, and renew 

 the old or apply some fresh dressing, according as may seem to 

 be indicated. 



Supposing the Corn to be in a contracted Foot, and 

 there be reason for believing that it is anywise connected, 

 either in causation or in duration, with the state of con- 

 traction the hoof is in, no shoes will prove so beneficial, when 

 once the corns, supposing them to be in a state of sore, are 

 horned over and able to bear pressure, as tips : the heels of the 

 hoof being left, during exposure, at their full natural height. 



Prevention of Corn. — After what has been stated, it must 

 be obvious that the prevention of corn is to be sought in the forge 

 — that, in fact, it consists in proper shoeing. Coleman, in his 

 "Lecture" on the subject, from which I have already made an 

 extract or two, virtually acknowledged shoeing to be the pro- 

 ducer of corn when he said to his pupils — " But I will venture 

 to say, if a horse continue to be shod under your care, he will 

 never have a corn." The shoeing, therefore, which gives rise 

 to corn is faulty, and the correction of its faults has proved the 



