CORNS. 539 



bly heightened, and of much greater substance ; while the 

 horse either cannot put a foot to the ground, or he patters 

 along with pecuharly short steps, going up hill far better 

 than he descends from an acclivity. 



The treatment, unfortunately, must begin very early, and 

 be followed by a very long rest, to be successful ; and it is 

 seldom that the practitioner is called in until disorganiza- 

 tion has proceeded too far for permanent benefit. If con- 

 traction is apparent, thin the sole and outer crust ; provided 

 inflammation of an active kind be present, as may be known 

 by the heat of the part and the shifting of position, bleed 

 by the toe, and put the foot into poultices ; otherwise blister 

 the pastern and coronet. Insert a frog seton through the 

 elastic, or, as it is called, the " fatty frog." Neurotomy, or 

 division of the nerve, as a last resort, will somewhat stay 

 the ulcerative process, and always ease the suffering animal 

 during progress, as well as give liberty in action. The opera- 

 tion, however, should not be attempted while any active 

 symptoms of inflammation remain, or when the crust or 

 horn of the foot is scanty and weak. 



CORNS. 



Corns, both in man and horse, certainly arise from 

 pressure, but farther than this the analogy fails : in our- 

 selves, the cuticle is usually increased. A corn however in 

 the horse is mostly the consequence of pressure applied to 

 that part of the horny sole which is between the inner 

 quarter and the bars. When violent pressure is en- 

 dured, even for a short time, it produces inflammation 

 and extravasation from the vascular secreting sole, whose 

 vessels becoming ruptured, make a fresh corn present a 

 bloody spot. This vascular secreting portion of sensitive 

 sole, when 'once injured in this way, unless immediately 

 relieved and not again subjected to any pressure whatever, 

 until it be perfectly reinstated, takes on a permanently 

 diseased state ; ever after, instead of perfect horn, a morbid 

 secretion is deposited, and in some cases a semi-purulent 

 matter, or pure pus, fills up the place, the inflamed vessels 

 retaining an exquisite sensibility. It is to this that the 

 incurable nature and the great tenderness of corns when 

 pressed on is owing. We can imagine why corns are 



