224 



DISEASES OF THE FEET. 



ing it wet, especially, close to the sensitive sole, and tingeing the 

 neighbouring horn with a more or less yellow colour. (4) The 

 most serious form of corns is when suppuration (the formation of 

 pus) takes place ; for, in this case, unless the part be opened out, the 

 constantly increasing matter will force its way up to the coronet, 

 as that will be in the direction of the line of least resistance, and 

 will, consequently, produce a quittor. It may, also, cause disease 

 of the lateral cartilages, or even of the pedal bone. Such 

 complications may be so grave as to threaten the life of the 

 animal. 



GRAVITY OF OOENS.— Owing to their tendency to persist and 

 recur, corns are a serious form of unsoundness, especially when 

 the feet are predisposed to this ailment, by their conformation. 



Fig. 74. — Three-quarter shoe. 



TREATMENT. — Remove the shoe. Pare out the seat of corn to 

 see if there be any suppuration; but do not remove more horn 

 than is necessary for this object; because it would be injudicious 

 to deprive the sensitive sole of its natural protection without good 

 reason for doing so. If matter has formed, free vent should be 

 given to it, and the foot should be poulticed for two or three days. 

 The part may be stimulated by the application of oil of turpentine. 

 If a suppurating corn does not readily heal, pass a red-hot iron 

 into it and freely burn the diseased parts. If the discharge has 

 a stinking smell, we may conclude that the pedal bone or lateral 

 cartilages are involved; in which case, the part should be opened 

 out, the diseased portions removed, and the wound antiseptically 

 (p. 67, et seq.) attended to. If quittor be present, it should be 

 specially treated. After an ordinary corn has been examined, it 

 is well to apply a three-quarter shoe (Fig. 74), or a bar shoe of 

 the form shown in Fig 52 (p. 177), if the frog is strong enough 

 to bear the pressure, so that all weight may be taken off the foot 



