CORNS. 471 



of gold-beater's skin, and apply it over tlie wounded surface ; 

 when this is perfectly dry, and adheres well without wrinkling 

 when the foot is set in motion from the ankle-joint, take a piece 

 of court-plaster cut perfectly round, or, what is better, stamped 

 with a wadding-punch, so that there be not the slightest irregu- 

 larity or inequality on its circumference; wet it with the tongue, 

 and, holding it to the fire for a moment, apply it directly over 

 the gold-beater's skin. Hold the foot still till the court-plaster 

 is perfectly dry, then rub it over with a little sweet oil, tallow 

 candle, or any other kind of grease more convenient; this 

 latter application repels the moisture, and consequently prevents 

 the loosening of the plaster. A galled heel thus treated, with 

 a change made in our boots, need give us no trouble, as the 

 plaster will stick as tightly as possible, through a whole day's 

 hard work, provided it be not immediately rubbed with a 

 contracted heel, which will not allow the foot to go down into 

 it, but keeps it seesawing up and down at every step we take. 



If we should suffer from having our ankles occasionally galled 

 with a wrinkle in the boot, as we have suffered more than once, 

 the plan proposed by Hawker will remedy the evil. We have 

 tried it and found it to answer a good purpose. It is in fact the 

 only plan to pursue. In the absence of the pad, one's own in- 

 genuity can construct something analogous. The Colonel says: 

 " Get a square silk pad similar to a kettle-holder. Then have 

 sewed on the opposite corners of it pieces of list long enough 

 to go twice around, and tie on the ankle. No wrinkle of a 

 water-boot can then cut or bruise your ' tendo-Achillis,' or back 

 sinew, provided you secure the pad firmly by putting it over 

 your common stocking, and under your yarn stocking." 



-?'>* CORNS. 



As writers on Sporting subjects, and even those of the highest 

 respectability in this branch of literature, have deigned to speak 

 upon the subject of corns, it may not be deemed amiss in us to 

 follow the precedent, although we may not be able to add much 

 that is new upon the subject. 



A corn is nothing more than a portion of hardened cuticle, 

 produced most generally by the pressure of the boot, or of one 



