170 NON-SPECIFIC OR GENERAL DISEASES 



" gravelled." Pus rarely breaks through the thick horny tissue, 

 but follows the wall and breaks through the skin where it meets 

 with the least resistance. Corns may be considered a serious 

 unsoundness in driving horses. 



The treatment is largely preventive. Trimming the foot 

 and fitting the shoe properly are important preventive measures. 

 The practice of cutting away the bars and sole or '' opening up 

 the heels," as it is commonly termed, should be condemned. 

 This method of trimming the foot instead of preventing corns 

 is a vei'v common factor in producing them. The shoe should 

 not be too short or too narrow. It should follow the outline of the 

 wall and rest evenly on its bearing margin. If this is practised, 

 weakening the wall by cutting off that portion allowed to project 

 beyond the shoe is unnecessary. Feet that have low heels and 

 large, prominent frogs should be shod with shoes thick at the 

 heels. The best line of treatment for a horse that is subject to 

 corns is to remove the shoes and allow the animal to run in a 

 pasture. If this is impossible, poulticing the feet or standing 

 the animal in moist clay will help in relieving the soreness. 

 Excessive cutting away of the horny sole is contra-indicated. Sup- 

 purative corns should be given proper drainage and treatment. 



Laminitis, " Founder." — This is an inflammation of the 

 sensitive or vascular stricture of the foot. The inflammation 

 may be acute, subacute or chronic. Stockmen frequently use a 

 classification for laminitis based on the causes. Feed, road and 

 water founder are common terms used in speaking of this dis- 

 ease. The inflanmuition is usually limited to the front feet. 



The causes of laminitis are overfeeding, sudden changes in 

 the feed, drinking a large quantity of water when the animal is 

 overheated, overexertion, exliaustion and chilling of the body by 

 standing the animal in a cold draft. It may be associated 

 with such diseases as rheumatism, influenza and colic. 



The symptoms vary in the different forms of the disease. 

 Pain is the most characteristic symptom. The sensitive or vas- 



