140 HORSESHOEING. 



other, so that the foot is unbalanced and the lower side over- 

 loaded, is a frequent cause. Hollowing the sole and bars exces- 

 sively and unnecessary thinning of the branches of the sole in 

 the search for corns are also causes. 



Among faulty shoes we may mention those not level on the 

 hoof-surface, trough-shaped, too short in the branches, shoes 

 which do not completely cover the bearing-surface of the hoof, 

 or whose bearing-surface at the ends of the branches is directed 

 downward and inward so that the quarters are squeezed to- 

 gether when the weight is put on the foot. Insufficient con- 

 caving of the shoe is often an exciting cause of corns in flat feet 

 and in those with dropped soles. A well-formed shoe which 

 does not rest firmly upon the hoof, or which has been shifted as 

 a result of careless nailing, may as readily cause bruising of the 

 quarters as neglected shoeing. The latter causes, as a rule, corns 

 of the sole. It is very rarely that corns are caused by stones 

 fastened between the frog and branches of the shoe. 



Dryness is particularly injurious to the hoofs, and is in the 

 highest degree favorable to the production of corns. It renders 

 the hoof stiff and inelastic, and first manifests itself by a short, 

 cautious (sore) gait when the horse is first put to work. 



Treatment. — First, removal of the causes, by restoring the 

 proper form to the hoof through shortening a toe which is too 

 long (especially apt to be the case in acute-angled hoofs), cutting 

 down quarters which are too high, and applying a shoe which 

 does not interfere with the action of any part of the hoof. In 

 no case should the upper surface of the ends of the branches 

 rise, and it should never press upon the branches of the sole. 

 A sensitive quarter should be rasped down from a twentieth to a 

 tenth of an inch before the shoe is nailed on. 



When there is a suppurating corn, the shoe should be left off 

 several days, and then a bar-shoe applied, because this best pro- 

 tects the inflamed region from pinching and bruising. 



A ohronie corn should be protected continuously from pressure 

 by the shoe. This is accomplished by using a bar-shoe with 



