CORNS. Small swellings or tumors on the sensitive sole in,the triangular space between the bars and the wall of the heel, generally in the inside and, always on the fore feet, are called corns. They are usually the effect of bad shoe ing, but sometimes occur from a bruise of the sole, when barefooted If there is inflammation, poultice; if there is matter, open and let it out. If not, simply pare away the hoof over the tender spot, but without touching the bars or frog. Then take one half to one ounce of verdigris, two ounces of oil of turpentine, and one half pound of beeswax; melt together, at a gentle heat, and apply over the part, being careful to keep out dirt, or dress simply with tincture of myrrh. Give the animal rest in a moist pasture, until recovered. The illustration, showing the sole of the horse's hoof, will give a correct idea of the several parts and also of the location of corns, which occur between d and g. a, a 1, and a 2 is the toe; b 1, and b 2, the por tion on each side midway between the toe and heels; i, i, the heels; ,f", f, the bars; d, d, d, Le sole; the shaded surface ending above h, or h, k, Z, is the frog; k, is the cleft of the frog. Corns are of two sorts, the true and the false corn. A competent veterinary writer, in a report to the United States Government, in 1870 says of these, that the locality of the true corn is the angle caused by the inflection of the bars, and is between the bars and wall. In this space the pos terior extremities of the coffin-bone move freely in the movements of the foot. By the irritation of frequent, prolonged, and severe use, a thick ening of the laminm is produced. This hardens and ultimately becomes a semi-corneous tumor. It may remain in this condition, or it may become a smooth, dense horn, more dense than any other part of the hoof. It is a constant source of pain and consequent lameness The more common false corn is a bruise of the sensi tive sole which lies directly under the heel of the coffin-bone. This occurs most frequently in
feet having a flat, level sole, deficient in the arch. It may occur in any variety of foot which is kept badly shod. A shoe with a broad web level upon its foot-surface, and seated for its whole width upon the wall and sole, will aid in the production of this form of disease. Several varieties of the false corn are described, but they are simply different stages of the same disease The true corn is essentially incurable. -For the false, in its early stages, the general principles of treat ment to abate local inflammation may arrest the disease. If suppuration can be prevented, the duration of lameness will be much limited. Care should be taken that the shoe should have its bearing only on the solid border of the wall, and a very slight portion of the outer border of the sole. To this end, a shoe should he used with a narrow web, but little over half an inch in width; or the shoe with a wider web should be seated so that its bearing-surface would be narrow. Supposing the case has been neglected and suppuration has occurred, the pain and lame ness will be great until the matter is evacuated. The sole must be carefully pared away until the horn is very thin, when an opening must be made through it, and the pus evacuated. If great pain is inflicted by the attempt, the foot should be soaked in a warm alkaline bath, by which the born will be softened, and the extreme tenderness abated. If possible, the foot should be kept in a poultice for a day or two, or three, according to the previous severity of the disease. After that, the shoe may be reapplied, care being taken that the opening through the horn be so protected that no dirt or gravel can enter. A condition similar to false corn may exhibit itself in any portion of the ground surface of the foot as the result of a severe stone-bruise. If detected early, the warm foot-bath, with rest, will be sufficient treatment for it.