220 DISEASES OF THE FEET. 



from the pus (matter), which can hardly fail to form, not obtain- 

 ing an efficient exit. In all these serious cases, there will be great 

 pain and hig'h fever. If the navicular bursa or joint be opened, 

 there will be a discharge of synovia, tinged with blood, which 

 discharge will soon become dark and stinking. 



Tetanus (p. 527) is not an unfrequent result of wounds of the 

 sole and frog, which consequently should be treated antiseptically, 

 so as to destroy, or, at least, to prevent the development of any 

 of the microbes of this disease that may be present. 



TREATMENT. — Remove any foreign bodies; and treat as for 

 "Pricks in Shoeing" (p. 218). My readers will find in Moller's 

 " Veterinary Surgery " a very able description of the operation 

 necessary when the perforans tendon has become diseased from 

 puncture. 



PREVENTIVE MEASURES.— On no account thin the sole or 

 pare the frog, except to remove loose or undermined parts ; and 

 allow the foot to retain its natural protection. Do not use " stop- 

 pings," which will make the sole and frog soft and spongy. 



Corns. 



DEFINITION.— A corn is a bruise of the membrane which se- 

 cretes the horny sole and which covers the ground surface of the 

 pedal bone. 



NATURE. — That portion of the sole which lies in the angle 

 formed by the wall and bars, and which is called the " seat of 

 corn" (Fig 73), is the spot which is peculiarly liable to this 

 injury, because the sole is thinnest there; the horse, in all his 

 paces, places his heel first on the ground ; and the sensitive sole 

 is apt to be pressed upon at that part, by the horn of the wall, in 

 the event of the heels being allowed to grow too long, especially 

 if the bars have been cut away. 



LIABILITY. — ^The chief predisposing causes of corns are weak 

 heels and flat soles ; fast work on hard ground ; and bad shoe- 

 ing. 



POSITION. — Although corns occur frequently in the fore feet, 

 they are rarely found in the hind ones; the reasons being that 

 the latter are far less exposed to concussion than the former ; 

 their soles are, naturally, more arched, and, consequently, are 

 less exposed to injury; the heels are stronger, and as a rule 



