152 



CORNS. 



Corns are bruises or contusions of the sensitive membrane, which covers 

 the lower surface of the coffm-bone, and secretes the horny sole. A corn 

 appears as a small reddish spot or patch, in the space between the bars and 

 thejvall at the heel. Corns are almost always met with in the fore feet, 

 though the hind ones are also sometimes affected. In nearly all cases it is 

 the insides of the feet, which are the seats of these bruises, and this is 

 probably attributable to the fact that more weight is thrown on the inner 

 than on the outer side of the foot. We mentioned, in treating of navicular 

 disease, that the fore feet were much more liable to suffer from continued 

 concussion than the hind ones. This would also account for the much more 

 common occurrence of corns in the fore feet than in the hind ones. As in 

 navicular disease, so in the case of corns, it has been observed that animals 

 subjected to constant work on hard ground, are more liable to become 

 affected ; and this is especially the case with high-stepping animals, with 

 weak heels and marked "heel action." In the accompanying picture of the 

 near fore foot, A shows the position of corns between the bar B and the wall 

 at the heel. 



The chief cause of corns is the irrational method of shoeing, which 

 causes pressure at the seat indicated at A in the above picture. In the 

 opinion of Professor Williams, "the ordinary seated shoe is the most 

 irrational and insensate one which ever emanated from man's brain. It is a 

 mechanism which bears upon no fart of the sole, except upon the spot which is 

 incapable of pressure. It is dished out, made concave all round the foot 



