DISEASES FEOM FAULTY CONFOEMATION 203 



the majority of cases, a certain amount of contraction to be 

 overcome. This can only be done by continuing the use of 

 a leather sole or some form of frog or bar-pad as recom- 

 mended for the relief of that condition. 



C. CHRONIC BRUISED SOLE. 



A similar condition to that of corn may be met with in 

 other positions on the sole. It is described by Eogerson 

 as sand-crack of the sole,* and is invariably met with 

 around that portion of the sole in contact with the shoe. 



The animal is lame, and the shoe is removed in order to 

 ascertain the cause. Nothing at first is noticeable except 

 that the animal flinches when pressure is applied to the 

 spot with the pincers, or the sole is tapped with the 

 hammer. 



On removing the sole with the knife, however, a distinct 

 black mark is discovered, which, when followed up by 

 careful paring, is often found to have pus at the bottom. 



In this case the injury has resulted, as we have already 

 intimated elsewhere, from causing the animal to wear for 

 too long a time a shoe with too broad a web or insufficiently 

 seated. Or it may have originated with the irritation set 

 up by foreign and hard substances between the web of the 

 shoe and the foot. 



In his description of this condition Mr. Eogerson draws 

 attention to the fact that the pus found should not be 

 wrongly attributed to accidental pricking of the foot. He 

 says : 



' Considering that the cracks or splits are always found 

 in the immediate vicinity of the nail-holes, a certain 

 amount of discretionary skill is required in order that the 

 lameness may be attributed to its proper cause. This is an 

 instance in which the presence of the veterinary surgeon is 

 imperative, in order to prevent undue blame being attached 

 to the shoeing-smith. Misconception in these cases might 

 very easily arise when parties concerned are disposed to 



* Veterinarian, vol. Ixiii., p. 51. 



