398 



injure the soft tissues. The heel oii the affected side is to be low- 

 ered until all pressure is removed, and, if the i)atient's labor is 

 required, the foot must be shod with a bar shoe or with one having 

 stiff heels. Care must be t^ken to reset the shoe before the foot has 

 grown too long, else the shoe will no longer rest on the wall but on 

 the sole and bar. 



In moist corns we believe in cutting them out. If there is inflam- 

 mation present, cold baths and poultices should be used; when the' 

 horn is well softened and the fever allayed, pare ont all of the dis- 

 eased horn, lightly cauterize the soft tissues beneath, and poultice 

 the foot for two or three days. When the granulations look red 

 dress the wound with oakum balls saturated in a weak solution of 

 tincture of aloes or spirits of camphor, and apply a roller bandage. 

 Change the dressing every two or three days until a firm, healthy 

 layer of new horn covers the wound, wlien the shoe may be put on, 

 as in dry corn, and the patient returned to work. 



In suppurative corns the loosened horn must be removed so that 

 the i^us may freelj^ escape. If the pus has worked a passage to the 

 coronarj" band, and escapes from an opening between the band and 

 hoof, an opening must be made on the sole, and cold baths, made 

 astringent with a little sulphate of iron or copper^ are to be used for 

 a day or two. When the discharge becomes health)^ the fistulous 

 tracts may be injected daily with a weak solution of bichloride of 

 mercury, nitrate of silver, etc., and the foot dressed as after the 

 operation for moist corns. When complications arise the treatment 

 must be varied to meet the indications; if gangrene of the lateral 

 cartilage takes place it must be treated as directed under the liead of 

 cartilaginous quittor; if the velvety tissue is gangrenous it must be 

 cut away, and if the coffin bone is necrosed it must be scraped, and 

 the resulting wounds are to be treated on general principles. After 

 any of the operations for corns have been performed, in which the 

 soft tissues have been laid l3are, it is best to protect the foot by a sole 

 of soft leather, set beneath the shoe, when the animal is returned to 

 work. Onl}^ in rare instances are the complications of corn so seri- 

 ous as to destroy the life or usefulness of the patient. It is the wide, 

 flat foot, Avith low heels and a thin wall, which is most liable to resist 

 all efforts toward effecting a comj^lete cure. 



BRUISE OF THE FROG. 



When the frog is severely bruised the injury is followed by suppu- 

 ration beneath the horn, and at times by partial gangrene of the 

 plantar cushion. 



Causes. — A bruise of the frog generally happens from the animal 

 stepping on a rough stone or otlier hard object. It is more apt to take 

 place when the animal is trotting, running, or jumping than when he 

 is at a slower pace. A stone wedged between the branches of the shoe 

 in the cleft of the frog, or between tlie sides of the frog and the shoe, 



