THE HORSE’S FOOT. 
325 
a hoof of too thick or resisting a nature, unless it has first been 
sufficiently softened by poultices and thinned down by the knife. 
This suppuration, in the generality of cases, brings on serious 
complications, by the excessive pressure to which the sub-horny 
tissues are then subjected. Gangrene of the velvety tissue near 
the branches of the sole and of the podophyllous grooves which 
have been macerated in the suppuration, are very common com¬ 
plications. If the pus remains long in the hoof, its gangrenous 
results may extend to the os pedis, the lateral cartilage, the plan¬ 
tar cushion, and even to the plantar aponeurosis, and give rise to 
necrosis or caries of the bones, or to quittor, to a more or less 
variable extent. This sub-horn} 7 suppuration, which may some¬ 
times be considerable, as well as the complications accompanying 
it, are detected with the probe. 
V. Termination and Prognosis .—Resolution is a common ter¬ 
mination of corns. But their relapse is common also, especially 
in feet predisposed to them by bad conformation. A kind 
of chronic condition of the disease, and one which is more 
liable to become serious than the accidental variety, is the 
ordinary termination in this case. The mere extent of the 
disease is of less importance in the diagnosis than the pre¬ 
disposing conditions. Generally, the dry corn is less serious than 
the moist one, and especially less than the suppurative. Com¬ 
plicated corns, principally in flat, wide feet, with low heels, by 
reason of uncertain, protracted and expensive treatment, are in 
general fatal, and necessitate the destruction of the patient. 
VI. Treatment .—The largeness of the space we have con¬ 
sumed in considering the etiology of corns will compel us to be 
brief in our remarks upon the preventive treatment. Shoeing, 
which is so often the cause of corns, may also be made a means 
of preventing them, even upon predisposed feet, if performed 
with intelligence and proper observation, based upon the anatomy 
and physiology of the foot. Generally speaking, one must not 
proceed rashly by changing too suddenly the mode of shoeing. 
We do not think that any one specified system of shoeing will 
with certainty prevent corns, but we do believe that each case 
demands its special study and care. Usually, a flat shoe, and 
