DISEASES OF THE FETLOCK, ANKLE, AND FOOT. 423 



is removed from tlie heels. In suppurative corn the lameness subsides 

 or entirely disappears as soon as the abscess opens. 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 com and in most chronic cases all evidences of 

 local fever are often wanting. It is in these cases that the patient 

 goes well when newly shod, for the smith cuts away the sole over the 

 seat of injury until all pressure by the shoe is removed and lowers 

 the heels so that concussion is reduced to a minimum. 



If a com is suspected, the foot should be examined for increased 

 sensibility of the inside heel. Tapping the heel of the shoe with a 

 hammer and grasping the wall and bar between the jaws of pincers 

 with moderate pressure will cause more or less flinching if the dis- 

 ease is present. For further evidence the shoe is removed and the 

 heel cut away with the drawing knife. As the horn is pared out, not 

 only the sole in the angle is found discolored, but in many instances 

 the insensible laminae of the bar and wall adjacent are also stained 

 with the escaped blood. In moist and suppurative corns this discolor- 

 ation is less marked than in dry corn and even may be entirely want- 

 ing. In these cases the horn is soft, often white, and stringy or mealy, 

 as seen in pumiced sole resulting from founder. When the whole 

 thickness of the sole is discolored and the horn dry and brittle it is 

 generally evidence that the com is an old one and that the exciting 

 cause has existed continuously. A moist corn differs from the dry 

 one in that the injury is more severe. The parts affected are more or 

 less inflamed, and the horn of the sole in the angle is xmdermined by a 

 citron-colored fluid, which often permeates the injured sole and 

 laminae, causing the horn to become somewhat spongy. 



A suppurative corn differs from others in that the inflammation 

 ends in suppuration. The pus collects at the point of injury and 

 finally escapes by working its way between the sensitive and insensi- 

 ble laminae to the top of the hoof, where an opening is made between 

 the wall and 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 quitter, or caries of the coffin bone. 



Treatment. — Since a diversity of opinion exists as to what measures 

 must be adopted for the radical cure of corns, the author will advise 

 the use of those which have proved most efficient in his hands. 



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

 and removed. In the great majority of cases the shoeing is at fault. 

 Wliile 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 imperative that shoes be worn which are not free from objections; 



