198 DISEASES OF THE HORSE'S FOOT 



couraged to do so, and excessive paring either of the latter 

 organ or of the bars or the sole should be strictly dis- 

 countenanced. When the sole is thin, or the frog wasted, 

 use a leather sole or a rubber pad. With these precautions, 

 corns may be prevented from occuring even in a foot with 

 a predisposing conformation. 



When corn is present, the first treatment usually adopted 

 is that of ' paring it out.' This is advocated by Percival 

 and by many other writers. We cannot say, however, that 

 we agree with it — at any rate, not in the case of simple dry 

 corn. 



' Paring it out,' and by that we mean thinning down the 

 sole until close on the sensitive structures, can only be 

 advised in the case of suppurating corn, or in cases where 

 doubt exists as to whether pus is present or not. In the 

 latter case paring becomes necessary as an exploratory 

 means to diagnosis. 



When it appears fairly certain, even in the case of a 

 moist corn, that pus does not exist, then paring is to be 

 discountenanced, for the reason that it only tends to 

 weakening of the parts and to assist largely in the corn's 

 recurrence. 



Those who advocate it do so for the reason that it relieves 

 pressure on the injured parts. 



That it does so directly from below cannot be denied ; 

 but that it also favours contraction and compression from 

 side to side is equally certain. 



A moderate paring may, however, be indulged in, say, to 

 about one-half the estimated thickness of the sole. Soften- 

 ing of the horn and consequent lessening of pressure may 

 then be brought about by the use of oil, oil and glycerine, 

 tincture of creasote, or by poulticing. 



In the case of a moist corn the paring should be stopped 

 immediately the true nature of the injury has made itself 

 apparent. Warm poultices or hot baths should then be 

 used in order to soften the surrounding parts, lessen the 

 pressure, and ease the pain. After a day or two day's 

 poulticing, should pain still continue with any symptom of 



