THE MODERN HORSE DOCTOR. 349 



is deceitful, and dictated by too shallow an idea of the complaint; 

 for though it gives time for the removal of it when existing, still 

 it leaves what may be termed an increased disposition to ft, be- 

 cause it deprives the sensitive parts of the protection of which 

 they already stood too much in need ; and we have no hesitation 

 in saying, that it is from this mode of treatment solely that some 

 horses are so frequently and indeed almost constantly affected. 

 The best plan, therefore, which can be followed, is to apply a bar 

 shoe, as this affords more ample means of throwing the pressure 

 off the affected parts ; no excision of the horn, we repeat, ought 

 to be resorted to, unless there is reason to believe that suppura- 

 tion has taken place.' If no horn is to be pared away in corns, 

 what, I would ask, is to be done in circumstances where the bar 

 shoe cannot be employed ? that is, where the frog is much lower 

 than the heels, or too rotten and tender to bear pressure. Mr. 

 "Budd tells us that the shoe is to be 'laid off the part;' that is, 

 the shoe is to be so formed, that when applied to the foot it may 

 not be in contact with the tender heel : this may afford temporary 

 relief, but by one day's work the shoe will be brought to its origi- 

 nal form. I am inclined to believe that corns are often rendered 

 inveterate by trusting to such ineffectual means ; for the propri- 

 etor, finding his horse relieved, sets off perhaps on a journey ; 

 the shoe soon bears down upon the heel again, and the bruise or 

 corn is much aggravated ; by dint of spur and whip, however, 

 the horse is compelled to go on ; and when he arrives at the end 

 of the stage, so high a degree of inflammation will perhaps have 

 taken place that suppuration cannot be prevented. The only 

 mode, I conceive, by which a corn can be either cured or palli- 

 ated, is to take off all pressure from the diseased parts ; and this 

 not only for a short time, but till the injured sensible part has 

 lost its tenderness, and formed horn of sufficient strength to en- 

 able it to bear pressure. While a horse is worked, the shoe 

 should be frequently examined ; and whenever the heel appears 

 to be so near the diseased part as to be in danger of bearing on 

 it, it should be immediately removed, and some more horn pared 

 away, so as to have a considerable vacancy between the heel 

 of the hoof and the heel of the shoe ; for even if a bar shoe is 

 applied, the horn will in time grow down, so as to be in contact 

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