KNEE, FETLOCK, ANKLE, AND FOOT. 1 89 



the sensitive and insensitive laminae to the top of the hoof, where 

 an opening is made by the separation of the wall from the coronary band 

 at or near the heels. This is the most serious form of corns, for the 

 reason that it may induce gangrene of the plantar cushion, cartilaginous 

 quittor, or caries of the coffin bone. 



As in all other troubles, the cause must be discovered if possible, and 

 removed. In the great majority of cases the shoeing will be at fault. 

 While sudden changes in the method of shoeing are not advisable, it 

 may be said that all errors, either in the preparation of the foot, in the 

 construction of the shoe, or in its application, may very properly be 

 corrected at any time. Circumstances may, at times, make it impera- 

 tive that shoes shall be worn which are not free from objections, as, for 

 instance, the shoe with a high calk; but in such cases it is considered 

 that the in j uries liable to result from the use of calks are less serious than 

 those which are sure to happen for the want of them. 



For a sound foot, perfectly formed, a flat shoe, with heels less thick 

 than the toe, and which rests evenly on the wall proper, is the best. In 

 flat feet it is often necessarj^ to concave the shoe as much as possible on 

 the upper surface, so that the sole may not be pressed upon. If the 

 heels are very low the heels of the shoe may be made thicker. If the 

 foot is very broad and the wall light toward the heels, a bar shoe, rest- 

 ing upon the frog, will aid to excessive tension upon the soft tissues 

 when the foot receives the weight of the body. A piece of leather 

 placed between the foot and the shoe serves to largely destroy con- 

 cussion, and its use is absolutely necessary on some animals in that they 

 may be kept at work. 



Lastly, among the preventive measures, may be mentioned those 

 which serve to maintain the suppleness of the hoof. The dead horn 

 upon the surface of the sole not only retains moisture for a long time, 

 but protects the li\nng horn beneath from the effects of evaporation, and 

 for this reason the sole should be pared as little as possible. Stuffing 

 the feet with flaxseed meal, wet clay, or other Hke substances; damp 

 dirt floors or damp bedding of tan-bark, greasy hoof ointments, etc., are 

 all means which may be used to keep the feet from becoming too dry 

 and hard. 



As to the curative measures which are adopted much will depend upon 

 the extent of the injury. If the case is one of chronic dry corn, with 

 but slight lameness, the foot should be poulticed for a day or two and 

 the discolored horn pared out, care being taken not to injure the soft 



