198 DISEASES OF THE HORSE’S FOOT 
couraged to do so, and excessive paring either of the latter 
organ or of the bars or the sole should be strictly dis- 
countenanced. Where the sole is thin, or the frog wasted, 
use a leather sole or a rubber pad. With these precautions, 
corns may be prevented from occuring even in a foot with 
a predisposing conformation. 
When corn is present, the first treatment usually adopted 
is that of ‘paring it out.’ This is advocated by Percival 
and by many other writers. We cannot say, however, that 
we agree with it—at any rate, not in the case of simple dry 
corn. 
‘ Paring it out,’ and by that we mean thinning down the 
sole until close on the sensitive structures, can only be 
advised in the case of suppurating corn, or in cases where 
doubt exists as to whether pus is present or not. In the 
latter case paring becomes necessary as an exploratory 
means to diagnosis. 
When it appears fairly certain, even in the case of a 
moist corn, that pus does not exist, then paring is to be 
discountenanced, for the reason that it only tends to 
weakening of the parts and to assist largely in the corn’s 
recurrence. 
Those who advocate it do so for the reason that it relieves 
pressure on the injured parts. 
That it does so directly from below cannot be denied ; 
but that it also favours contraction and compression from 
side to side is equally certain. 
A moderate paring may, however, be indulged in, say, to 
about one-half the estimated thickness of the sole. Soften- 
ing of the horn and consequent lessening of pressure may 
then be brought about by the use of'oil, oil and glycerine, 
tincture of creasote, or by poulticing. 
In the case of a moist corn the paring should be stopped 
immediately the true nature of the injury has made itself 
apparent. Warm poultices or hot baths should then be 
used in order to soften the surrounding parts, lessen the 
pressure, and ease the pain. After a day or two day’s 
poulticing, should pain still continue with any symptom of 
