DISEASES, DEFECTS, ETC. 73 



by various veterinary surgeons, who at once asserted that 

 her lameness proceeded from a contraction of the hoof of the 

 off forefoot, which might have existed, and probably did 

 exist, before sale, though the disease had not developed 

 itself in lameness, and that at all events there must have 

 been a strong predisposition to unsoundness. The defen- 

 dant wrote a letter offering to take her back ; however, 

 it was miscarried, and the mare was sold by auction for 

 2bl. An action was brought for the balance, and on this 

 evidence the jury gave a verdict for the plaintiff {j). 



In the angle between the bars and the quarters, the Corns, 

 horn of the sole has sometimes a red appearance, and is 

 more spongy and soft than at any other part. The horse 

 flinches when this portion of the horn is pressed upon, and 

 there is an occasional or permanent lameness. This disease 

 of the foot is termed corns, bearing this resemblance to the 

 corn of the human being, that it is produced by pressure 

 and is a cause of lameness, but differing from it in that the 

 horn, answering to the skin of the human foot, is thin and 

 weak, instead of being thickened and hardened. When it 

 is neglected, so much inflammation is produced in that part 

 of the sensible sole that suppuration follows, which is 

 succeeded by quitter {k), and the matter either undermines 

 the horny sole or is discharged at the coronet. The cause 

 is, pressure on the sole at that part, by the irritation of 

 which a small quantity of blood is extravasated. The horn 

 is secreted in a less quantity, and is of a more spongy 

 nature, and the extravasated blood becomes inclosed ia it. 

 The portion of the foot in which they are situated will not 

 bear the ordinary pressure of the shoe, and any accidental 

 additional pressure from the growing down of the horn or 

 the introduction of dirt or gravel will cause serious lame- 

 ness. They render it necessary to wear a thick and heavy 

 shoe or a bar shoe to protect the weakened and diseased 

 part (/). 



Corns are hardly ever found on the hind feet ; in any 

 situation they are very seldom radically cured, and mani- 

 festly constitute unsoundness. 



A cough from catarrh or common cold is a complaint Cough, 

 of frequent occurrence, generally subdued without much 

 difficulty, but often becoming of serious consequence when 



{j) Greenway r. Marshall, Ex. (I) Lib. U. K. "The Horse," 



Sittings, Dec. 9, 1845. 362. 



(k) Quitter, post. 



