The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-01-11
COrns.


This very common failing IN the
horse is so well known that any de-
scription of them is quite unnecessary.
1t would, however, be absurd to say
that they are of little consequence, but
Just as absurd to reject such horse
because he had them. He may have
very extensive corns, and yet be al
ways sound on them; or very minute
ones to the eye, yet be seriously ln-
convenienced and famed by them.
Hundreds OF horses have Germs with
out any one suspecting it, and as
long as a horse remained sound,
or nearly so, the fact might
never be known. If he becomes
lame, and his feet are in consequence
of it carefully examined, the search
ing-knife lets the owner or somebody,
into the secret That becoming known.
the foot properly put to rights, and
with proper shoe put on, the horse
probably goes sounder than he has for
months past. If horse has cOrns,
the principal thing to be looked at
is not so much the soreness OF
them, or how far he may even go
lame ON them, but the kind OF food
he has. If he has good wide, or, In
more stable phrase, open heels and the
wall or crust is strong, so as TO afford
good nail hold, we have very lit
tie fear of cornS, for such a foot Will
allow the means of taking OFF pres
sure from them. They will often, in
such a case, hold out prospect OF
cure, or, if not, of such palliative as
amounts to nearly rs good an effect;
that is, feeling no inconvenience from
them. If, however, the heels are mar
row. it is almost apostolic to prevent
the great aggravation of the disease,
namely, pressure. We may even in
such case put away super pressure,
that is, pressure from the shoe on the
affected parts; but then there will
remain what is termed lateral pres
sure, which will be between the bars
and the heels or crust OF the foot.
These bars are intended by nature to
act us props, keeping the heels at their
proper distance apart, and are usually
left, say an eighth of an inch, or more,
above the surface of the sole of the
foot. When we say cut away the
bars, which in corn cases is often
done, it only means they are so much
lowered as to be on u level with the
sole; but as the corn is seated below
this, it will become evident we cannot,
or ut least dare not, cut the bars away
deep enough to prevent pressure
between them and the heel, which, il
in close affinity (Which is the case in
narrow heels) is very great; i'll fact,
the corn is in kind OF natural vice,
whose almost acute angle presses it on
either side. A horse with corns and
such heels should not be bought 10y
any one looking for good horse; he
will rarely be sound three days to-
gether; he will be no more or less
lame il he is not worked ut all,
and work will lame him further from
sions. But should the foot be good
and cool, the horse in work, and
sound, he may safely be bought,
however extensive the appearance
of the corns may be; tor should
even little tenderness or sore
ness be perceived after unusual
work on hard roads, keeping the feet
in warm water faw Lours for day
or two, and small dose of physic,
will set all right again.
In cases where soreness comes on
from corns, if the feet are good, we
generally know the worst, and its REM
edy. Such lameness is not, like fail
ing of the sinews, likely to he perma-
nent, or end in helplessness. On the
contrary, with care there is no such
danger; but every prospect of that
care being recompensed by a compare
tive or total soundness of the horse, or,
to say the least, his freedom from
lameness. Corns, he they of a better
or worse description, will he found to
affect horse more or less in accord
ance with the purpose he is wanted
for