696 



SHOEING. 



under the quarter, and rest upon this part, bruising it. When the 

 sensible sole is thus bruised, .the effused blood mixes with the horny 

 matter and makes a red spot, and if the irritation is continued so 

 as to produce very much inflammation, ulceration may take place, 

 which would, in some cases, be sufficient to affect the inner wing of 

 the coffin bone, and cause matter to break out at the coronet. Some- 

 times when the quarter is very much contracted the space between 



the bar and quarter being 

 greatly lessened, it causes 

 such bruising or pressure 

 upon the soft parts as to ex- 

 cite inflammation, or a corn, 

 which, in some cases, may 

 be very serious. The usual 

 remedy is to cut away the 

 parts so that the shoe will 

 not rest upon it, and put on 

 a little caustic, or touch it 

 with a hot iron, which de- 

 stroys sensibility, and 

 changes the condition of se- 

 cretion. Butter of antimo- 

 ny, or salts of nitre, is the 

 favorite remedy; then melt 



in a little tar, resin, and tallow, and cover with a little tow to 

 prevent gravel or dirt working into the tender part. The usual 

 way, in severe cases, is to put on a bar shoe, so as to enable re- 

 moving all pressure from the part. This mode of treatment, 

 however, as usually done, is only palliative, not curative. The 

 horse will travel better, but if the shoe is left on a little too long, 

 or presses upon the part in the least, or should gravel or dirt 

 accumulate between the part and the shoe, inflammation and 

 lameness will follow. The only remedy for this is to remove the 

 pressure. But in time by this treatment the difficulty is only 

 aggravated and made worse. Hence, the usual assertion that 

 " corns cannot be cured. ' 



The writer will now explain how corns may be cured without 

 difficulty ': The black performing horse, Gifford, one of his former 



FIG. 536. Gifford's foot, as it appeared 

 before treatment. 



