C0BN8.] 



MODERN VETERINAKY PRACTICE. 



[corns. 



of the heels bruising the sensitive solo, that 

 corns are so common to contracted feet, and 

 also to weal; hoofs. It is also to the increased 

 weakness of the inner wall and heel of the 

 hoof tliat corns are so much more frequent in 

 the inner than the outer heel ; and it is from 

 the superior strength of the hinder heels that 

 they are less liable to them. But though the 

 contraction of the walls of the heels docs often 

 occasion the complaint, it is much more fre- 

 quently the consequence of pressure of the 

 sole, the very form of which shows that it 

 never was intended to bo thus acted on; for 

 the crust meets the ground, and the sole re- 

 cedes from it in every part. The general 

 mode in which injurious pressure is given 

 to the sole, is either by an improper form of the 

 shoe applied, by not removing the horn op- 

 posed to the seat of corns, or by neglecting to 

 renew the shoe at, proper intervals. To one 

 or other of these errors most corns may be 

 attributed. 



Bad shoeing operates in various ways, but 

 in none more commonly than by the thickened 

 unequal heel of the shoe, which is, in general, 

 formed into a sort of clubbed end, that pre- 

 vents its presenting a level surface towards 

 the foot; on the contrary, a bulbous projec- 

 tion indents itself into the very part, as though 

 purposely placed there to produce this injury. 

 The custom, also, of making the seat of the 

 shoe slant, or level inwards, is, we believe, 

 sometimes productive of corns ; but the heel, 

 for nearly an inch before its termination, 

 should be made perfectly flat, and the same 

 thickness as any other part of the shoe. 



Neglecting to prepare the foot for the shoe 

 is also a fruitful source of corns ; for that part 

 of the horny sole which fills up the acute 

 angle, between the crust and the bars, the 

 pressure on which is so injurious, is, in a state 

 of nature, protected by the prominences of the 

 frog and bars, as well as by the inclined direc- 

 tion of the latter; but as artificial habits alter 

 the shape of the foot, this part becomes ex- 

 posed. Therefore, in preparing a foot for the 

 shoe, this angular portion should bo so pared 

 as to remove it from contact with the iron, 

 without weakening the horny covering of the 

 sensitive sole. For so surely as this part 

 becomes subjected to pressure for any con- 

 eiderable length of time, so surely extravasa- 

 2s 



tion will take place, and a corn bo formed, all 

 the more rapidly if the Iieela are weak. 



The third conjinon cause is the ncf^lcct of 



removing, or renewing, the shoes at proper 

 intervals. AVheti a shoo has been long worn, 

 the growth of the hoof carries it forward, by 

 which the parts originally opposed to tho 

 heels are carried beyond them, and now presa 

 on tho sole, often becoming indented within 

 the lino of tho crust, and producing a most 

 injurious pressure. Sometimes, also, either 

 from tho original form of the shoes, or by long 

 wear, they become loose and "springy,'' as 

 smiths call it, at the heels ; in w Inch cases 

 gravel is apt to make its way between tho 

 shoe and the foot, aud, by the pressure of tho 

 heels during action, is indented into the sub- 

 stance of the horn. Other gravel is received in 

 the same manner, which presses the first still 

 onward, till at last it meets tho sensitive part. 

 Aa soon as this takes place, inflammation 

 ensues, and a very difi'erent complaint is 

 formed to that of common corns ; for in every 

 instance of this kind, suppuration proceeds, 

 and the matter, unable to make its exit below, 

 or sideways, forces its way upwards, aud a 

 small tumour appears at the coronet, which 

 breaks, and discharges a purulent matter. 



But the common eflect of pressure from 

 long-worn shoes, is the extravasation of a little 

 blood ; which, on paring away tho horn at tho 

 angular point of the heel, or heels, appears as 

 a black or red speck, as it may have been 

 longer or more newly thrown out from its 

 vessels ; and it may bo followed with tho 

 paring knife to its source in the sensitive part. 

 If the injury has been considerable, this blood 

 itself may irritate, and, similarly to gravel, 

 produce suppuration. In general cases, how- 

 ever, this extravasation remains unchanged ; 

 and, unless attended to, a weakened action of 

 this part of the solo becomes permanent, and 

 blood continues to be thrown out ever after, 

 upon any occasional renewal of the pressure. 

 In such cases, the horn itself, over the part, 

 proves a source of future irritation ; therefore, 

 horses with old corns, only go well when 

 fresh shod and their hoofs are newly pared ; 

 for as soon as tho portion of sole between the 

 bars grows to a level with the surrounding 

 horn again, the sensitive solo receives a fresh 

 bruise, and lameness once more appears. It 



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