383 



pauied by a flat solo whose posterior wings either rest upon the ground 

 or the shoe, and as a consequence are easily braised ; at the same time 

 the arch of the sole is so broad and flat that it can not support the 

 weight of the body, and in the displacement which happens when the 

 foot is rested upon the ground the soft tissues are liable to become 

 bruised or torn. 



It is universally conceded that shoeing of the foot, either as a direct 

 or predisposing cause, is most prolific in producing corns. One of the 

 most serious as well as the most common of the errors in shoeing is to 

 be found in the preparation of the foot for the shoe. Instead of seeking 

 to maintain the integrity of the arch the first thing done is to weaken 

 it by freely paring away the sole ; nor does the mutilation end here, for 

 the frog, which is nature's main support to the branches of the sole and 

 the heels, is also largely cut away. This not only permits of an excessive 

 downward movement of the contents of the horny box, but it at the 

 same time removes the one great means by which concussion of the foot 

 is destroyed. As adjuncts to the foregoing errors must be added the 

 ftiults in the construction of the shoe and in the way it is adjusted to 

 the foot. An excess of concavity in the shoe, by extending it too far 

 back on the heels, high calks, thin heels which permit the shoe to 

 spring, short heels with a calk set under the foot, and a shoe too light 

 for the animal wearing it or for the work required of him, are all to be 

 avoided as causes of corns. A shoe so set as to press upon the sole, or 

 one that has been on so long that the hoof has overgrown it until the 

 heels rest upon the sole and bars, becomes a direct cause of corns. In- 

 directly the shoe becomes the cause of corns when small stones, hard 

 dry earth, or other objects collect between the sole and shoe. Lastly, 

 a rapid gait and excessive knee action, especially on hard roads, predis- 

 pose to this disease of the feet. 



Sym2)toms.—OTdman\y a corn induces sufficient pain to cause lame- 

 ness. It may be intense, as seen in suppurative corn, or it may be but 

 a slight soreness, such as that which accompanies dry corn. It is by no 

 means unusual to see old horses having chronic corns apparently so 

 accustomed to the slight pain which they suffer as not to limp at ail ; 

 but these animals are generally very restless; they paw their bedding 

 behind them at night, and in many instances they refuse to lie down 

 for any lengthened rest. The lameness of this disease, however, can 

 hardly be said to be cliaracteristic, for the reason that it varies so 

 greatly in intensity -, but the position of the leg while the patient is at 

 rest is generally the same in all cases. The foot is so advanced that it is 

 relieved of all weight and the fetlock is flexed until all pressure by the 

 contents of the hoof is removed from the heels. In suppurative corn the 

 lameness subsides or entirely disappears as soon as the abscess has 

 opened. When the injured tissues are much inflamed, as may happen 

 in severe and recent cases, the heel of the affected side, or even the whole 

 foot, is hot and tender to pressure. In dry corn, and in most chronic 



