CLINICAL NOTE

                 KERATOMA IN THE PEDAL BONE OF A HORSE

                                                       BY

                                 P. R. KRISHNA IYER, G.M.V.C.,

Officiating Assistant Veterinary Research Officer, Imperial Institute of Veterinary
                                 Research, Muktesar-Kumaun.

                      (Received for Publication on 20th April 1932.)

                                            (with Plate XXV)

The occurrence of " Keratoma " or horn tumour affecting the horse's foot is an
extremely rare condition, which does not seem to have been previously recorded in
this country.

The present note deals with a specimen of keratoma recovered from the pedal
bone of a horse that had to be destroyed on account of chronic and intermittent
lameness. The specimen was made available to the writer for examination through
the courtesy of Major R. C. G. Thwaytes, R.A.V.C., Officer Commanding, Military
Veterinary Hospital, Sialkot, who also very kindly furnished very valuable informa-
tion concerning the history of the animal and accorded permission to the writer for
publishing this short note.

Williams [ 1904 ] says that keratoma occurs on the inner surface of the horny
hoof, generally at the toe and occasionally at other situations with corresponding
depressions on the pedal bone and that it is caused by the pressure of the toe-clips or
side-clips or by some mechanical injury.

The condition described by Williams, is designated by Caulton Reeks [1906] as
"Keraphyllocele ", which he defines as an enlargement forming on the inner sur-
face of the wall of the hoof, and he reserves the term "Keratoma" for horn
tumours occurring only on the sole.

Professor Walley [1890] records a case of keratoma following upon the operation
of " Grooving" the wall " in a case of bad sand-crack. The horse which was killed
after some time showed a tumour on the inner surface of the horny hoof correspond-
ing to the external fissure, as also some V shaped grooves with corresponding
depressions on the bone.

                                                (315)