QUITTOR. 601 



when forced, makes one. Within six hours of the applica- 

 tion of our treatment, the swelling of the quarter sensibly 

 diminishes, and the horse is to the same extent relieved ; 

 the explanation of which rapid change we submit to be as 

 follows. We have in the case performed something like an 

 amputation ; the agent has destroyed the morbid growth, 

 and has isolated the dead from the living ; the medicine, after 

 killing, acts chemically on the matter and diminishes its 

 bulk, so as to take off internal pressure, and the swelling 

 subsides ; the injection should be repeated twice or thrice, 

 at intervals of twelve to twenty-four hours, in order to 

 penetrate to all parts of the diseased structures. Some- 

 times we elongate the compound after the second applica- 

 tion, by adding equal or twice its weight of spirit ; we at 

 this stage wait for the slough separating, which takes from 

 seven to ten days, and watching the case, treat it as the 

 rules of surgery suggest ; and when it goes favourably, as 

 is commonly the case, nothing more is required, besides 

 sufficient rest and good care, until the foot is restored and 

 the horse fit for use. 



Connected with the slough, in some rare cases, a piece of 

 bone will come away ; this was called by the old farriers 

 the quittor bone, and consists of a fractured portion of an 

 ossified cartilage or exfoliation of bone, the cause most 

 probably in the case, of the whole mischief. 



No horse should be allowed to work under any pretence, 

 whilst suffering under the extremely painful state of quittor, 

 though we often see poor hard-wrought horses in our streets 

 in such condition, with blood and matter streaking down 

 the hoof ; but where words of advice do not avail in these 

 cases, the Act for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals 

 should be put in force, its tendency being equally conducive 

 to the interest of the owner and humanity to the animal. 



