LAMENESS IN HORSES. 60 7 
pressing unduly upon the parts near to the corn, or even upon 
the corn itself, or some dirt or gravel may have worked its way 
underneath the heel of the shoe, and that be irritating the corn. 
When this latter accident seems likely to happen, some soft stop- 
ping, mingled with tow, will be found of advantage, inserted un- 
derneath the shoe, so as to give a cover to the corn place ; and 
now and then a leathern or gutta-percha sole under the shoe has 
been found serviceable. Such expedients as these must, of 
course, depend for their employment on circumstances, and be 
regulated by the judgment of the veterinary practitioner. All 
that I have hitherto said on treatment supposes that the horse 
having corns is to be returned — or rather is in a condition to be 
returned — to his work. This may not, however, be the case. 
The Corn may not admit of Return to Work. — The 
horn may prove to be under-run, serous or purulent fluid may 
have collected, and this will necessitate the exposure of the 
morbid secreting surface. Instead of being simply thinned by 
paring, the horn in the corn-place will have to be cut out with 
the drawing-knife — re-union of horn once detached being what 
never happens — so as to admit of dressings being applied to 
the exposed tissues. Generally, however, in such, cases it is 
advisable, particularly if there exist any signs of inflammation, 
to place the feet in a poultice for a day or more, according as 
the corn shews a disposition to assume healthy action, and to 
continue the poultice so long as the secretion of horn thrives 
under it. From the moment, however, that the surface of the 
sore loses its ruby granulating character, or that serosity in 
place of horn issues from it, the poultice should be discontinued, 
and slightly escharotic dressings substituted, such as solutions of 
the sulphates of copper, zinc, and alum, &c., which, should 
stimulants appear called for, may be succeeded by the com- 
pound tincture of benzoin or myrrh. As soon as we have 
succeeded in permanently drying up the surface, and have 
established a normal secretion of horn, at the time that we are 
still applying dressings to complete the cure, the patient will 
benefit by being sent to work : pressure upon the corn doing 
good so long as it is of the kind tow or any other soft material 
will give, providing dirt and wet be kept from it. To this 
end, after placing upon it a dossil of fine tow, dipped in the 
dressing, lay another thick dossil of dry tow over this, then nail 
the shoe on over all, the broad heel of which will give the re- 
quisite support. A leathern or gutta percha sole may be used 
if deemed serviceable. In either case, care should be taken 
to remove the shoe, during the first week or so, every third or 
fourth day, in order to ascertain the state of the part, and renew 
