DISEASES OF THE FETLOCK, ANKLE, AND FOOT. 423 
is removed from the 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 corn 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 corn 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 lamine of the bar and wall adjacent are also stained 
with the escaped blood. In moist and suppurative corns this discoler- 
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 corn 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 undermined by a 
citron-colored fluid, which often permeates the injured sole and 
lamine, 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 laminz 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 quittor, 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. 
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 imperative that shoes be worn which are not free from objections; 
