COENS. 223 



in layers with unaltered horn between them, that it was repeated 

 on different occasions ; and, if the whole of the horn down to the 

 quick be discoloured, that the source of irritation was of a con- 

 tinued nature. (3) When the inflammation has been so severe as 

 to set up a certain amount of inflammation short of suppuration 

 taking place, a watery exudation filters through the horn below the 

 injured spot, rendering it wet, especially, close to the sensitive 

 sole, and tingeing the neighbouring horn with a more or less 

 j-ellow colour, (i) The most serious form of corns is when suppura- 

 tion (the formation of pus) takes place ; for, in this case, unless 

 the part be opened out, the constantly increasing matter will force 

 its way up to the coronet, as that will be in the direction of the 

 line of least resistance, and will, consequently, produce a quittor. 

 It may, also, cause disease of the lateral cartilages, or even of the 

 pedal bone. Such complications may be so grave as to threaten 

 the life of the animal. 



GRAVITY OF CORNS.— Owing to their tendency to persist and 

 recur, corns are a serious form of unsoundness, especially when the 

 feet are predisposed to this ailment by their conformation. 



TREATMENT. — Remove the shoe. Pare out the seat of corn 

 to see if there be any suppuration ; but do not remove more horn 

 than is necessary for this object ; because it would be injudicious 

 to deprive the sensitive sole of its natural protection without good 

 reason for doing so. If matter has formed, free vent should be 

 given to it, and the foot poulticed for two or three days. The 

 part may be stimulated by the application of oil of turpentine. If 

 a suppurating corn does not readily heal, pass a red-hot iron into 

 it and freely bum the diseased parts. If the discharge has a 

 stinking_ smell, the pedal bone or lateral cartilages are probably 

 involved ; in which case, the part should be opened out, the 

 diseased portiois removed, and the wound antiseptically (p. 67 

 et seq.) attended to. If quittor be present, it should be specially 

 treated. After an ordinary corn has been examined, it is well to 

 apply a three-quarter shoe (Fig. 74), or a bar shoe of the form 

 shown in Fig. 52 (p. 177), if the frog is strong enough to bear the 

 pressure, so that all weight may be taken off the foot near the 

 seat of the com ; for no matter ho'W carefully the shoe is applied, 

 the injured part will be jarred if the otherwise unsupported web 

 rests on any part of the bar or wall near the corn. In my own 

 practice, I always use a three-quarter shoe for an ordinary corn, 

 and, as a grea' rule, find, even when the animal has been decidedly 

 lame from the corn, that he will go " level " next day, if not 

 immediately after the three-quarter shoe has been put on, and will 



