114 THE STUD. 



Tvill be between the bars and the heels or crust of 

 the foot. These bars are intended by nature to 

 act as props, keeping the heels at their proper 

 distance apart, and are usually left, say an eighth 

 of an inch or more above the surface of the sole 

 of the foot. ^Vhen we say we cut away the bars, 

 which in corn cases is often done, it only means 

 they are so much lowered as to be on a level with 

 the sole ; but as the corn is seated below this, it 

 will become evident we cannot, or at least dare 

 not, cut the bars away deep enough to prevent 

 pressure between them and the heel, which, if in 

 close affinity (which is the case in narrow heels) 

 is very great; in fact, the corn is in a kind of na- 

 tural vice, whose almost acute angle presses it on 

 either side. A horse with corns and such heels 

 should not be bought ; he will rarely be sound 

 three days together. He will be more or less 

 lame if he is not worked at all, and work will 

 lame him further from the soreness and inflam- 

 mation it occasions ; but should the foot be good 

 and cool, the horse in work, and sound, he may 

 safely be purchased, however extensive the ap- 

 pearance of the corns may be ; for should even 

 a little tenderness or soreness be perceived after 

 unusual w^ork on hard roads, keeping the feet in 

 warm water a few hours for a day or two, and 

 a dose of physic, will set all right again. 



In cases where soreness comes on from corns, if 

 the feet are good, we generally know the worst. 



