32 THE DISEASES OF HORSES, 



seat being generally at the inner angle of the sole between the crust and the 

 bars. Two classes of feet are particularly liable to corns ; the contracted 

 foot (too often the result of a fanciful system of shoeing that pays no 

 attention to the nature and structure of the foot it attempts to improve), 

 for in this the thick hard sole does not yield to the motion of the 

 other parts, and the sensitive sole gets injured by the pressure, and then 

 inflammation is the result. The flat fleshy foot with low weak heels is the 

 most subject to corns, because, in this case, the sensitive sole is not pro- 

 tected by firm hoof, and being placed low when the coffin bone descends, 

 it gets squeezed and injured between that and the shoe ; for these reasons 

 a horse with high heels should have his foot well pared at each time of 

 shoeing, whereas the horse with weak thin heels should, especially on the 

 inner heel, be spared the knife. Corns are caused by wearing the shoe 

 too long without changing it, also by gravel getting into the foot, and also 

 getting placed under a partially loose shoe and causing irregularity of 

 tread, and consequent uneven pressure, and also from many forms of 

 bad shoeing. Corns are apt to be treated rather too lightly, but when 

 neglected the inflammation goes on to suppuration, and that neglected 

 may produce quittor. In searching for corns it is usual for the farriers to 

 do so by pressure with the the pincers round the foot ; of course pressure 

 over a tender, inflamed part like a corn will cause the horse to flinch, and 

 although some horses, more sensitive than others will yield and flinch 

 under the pressure even when a corn does not exist, it is still a pretty 

 correct way of judging where the corn is if the lameness arises from that 

 cause. The angle between the crust and the bars should be well pared out, 

 almost to the quick, but not so as to injure the sensitive sole. If there is 

 no discharge of matter, or none formed, the place may be lightly touched 

 over with butyr of antimony, and then a shoe contrived so as to relieve 

 the part from pressure ; if the smith is too stupid, or what is more likely 

 to be the case, obstinate over some pig-headed notion of his own, the 

 horse owner should see the work done himself. If suppuration has 

 taken place, the paring must extend right to the bottom of the corn, so 

 as to let out the matter, and all loose pieces of horn separated or 

 separating from the rest should be cut away. The foot should then be 

 either placed in warm water or poultices applied to clear the matter out, 

 and reduce the inflammation. 



The prevention of corns is best accomplished by an intelligent study 

 of the peculiarities of the horse's foot, and the adoption of a style of shoe- 

 ing in accordance with it. This is to the interest as it is the duty of every 

 horse owner, and many slight modifications of the greatest practical good 

 will suggest themselves to observant persons. The shoe should be made 

 to fit the foot, not the foot to fit the shoe, as is too often the case. 



Costiveness or Constipation.— By this is understood that the 

 discharge of focces is irregular, at long intervals, or altogether stopped, 

 and the dung when voided is hard and dry, sometimes covered with a glairy 

 matter. This state of things is oftener a symptom of disease than 



