LAMENESS IN THE FORE LEG 173 



work on hard roads and pavements, where the feet become dry 

 and brittle, and because of neglect of the matter of shoeing, 

 this affection is of frequent occurrence. Unshod horses are rarely 

 affected. If conformation is faulty and too much weight is 

 borne on the inner or the outer quarter, and the hoof wall at 

 the quarter tends to turn inward, corns are usually present. 

 They occur more frequently on the inner quarters of the front 

 feet, though the outer quarters are occasionally also affected and 

 in rare instances corns are found at the toes. They do not often 

 affect the hind feet. 



As soon as injury by pressure, such as is supposed to cause 

 the formation of corns, is brought to bear on the sensitive sole, 

 an extravasation of blood occurs. In time when the cause re- 

 mains active, this discoloration is evident in the substance of the 

 insensitive sole and consists in a red or yellowish spot which 

 varies in size — this is ordinarily termed dry corn. 



In some cases where infection of this extravasation of blood 

 and serum occurs, instead of desiccation and discoloration of the 

 insensitive parts, there is, in time, manifested a circumscribed 

 area of destruction of the insensitive sole and the abscess may, 

 where no provision for drainage exists, burrow between sensitive 

 and insensitive laminae and perforate the tissues at the coronet. 

 If the suppurative material discharges readily by way of the 

 sole, no disturbance of the heel or quarters occurs above the 

 hoof. 



Symptomatolog-y. — A supporting-leg-lameness characterizes 

 this condition; and this lameness in most instances varies in de- 

 gree with the amount of distress which is occasioned hj pressure 

 upon the inflamed parts. By an examination of the sole after 

 having removed all dirt, and exposed the horny sole to view, 

 no difficulty is encountered in locating the cause of the trouble. 



Treatment. — Before suppuration has taken place and in tlie 

 cases where suppuration does not occur, the horse-shoer's method 

 of paring out the diseased tissue affords a means of temporary 

 relief; but unless frequently done, in many cases, lameness re- 

 sults within about three weeks after such treatment has been 

 given. In other instances temporary relief is not to be gotten 



