394 QUITTOR. 



healthy, and, therefore, a narrow slip of horn ot a different and lighter colour is 

 produced. This is sometimes the best result that can be procured when the 

 surgeon has been able to obliterate the absolute crack or separation. It is, 

 however, to be regarded as a defect, not sufficient to condemn the horse, but 

 indicating that he has had sand-crack, and that a disposition to sand-crack may 

 possibly remain. There will also, in the generality of cases, be some degree of 

 tenderness in that quarter, which may produce slight lameness when unusual 

 exertion is required from the horse, or the shoe is suffered long to press on the 

 part. 



QUITTOR. 



This has been described as being the result of neglected or bad tread or over- 

 reach ; but it may be the consequence of any wound in the foot, and in any 

 part of the foot. In the natural process of ulceration, matter is thrown out 

 from the wound. It precedes the actual healing of the part. The matter 

 which is secreted in wounds of the foot is usually pent up there, and, in- 

 creasing in quantity, and urging its way in every direction, it forces the 

 little fleshy plates of the coffin-bone, from the horny ones of the crust, or the 

 horny sole from the fleshy sole, or even eats deeply into the internal parts of 

 the foot. These pipes or sinuses run in every direction, and constitute the 

 essence of quittor. 



If it arises from a wound at the bottom of the foot, the purulent matter which 

 is rapidly formed is pent up there, and the nail of the shoe or the stub remains iii 

 the wound, or the small aperture which was made is immediately closed again. 

 This matter, however, continues to be secreted, and separates the horny sole 

 from the fleshy one to a considerable extent, and at length forces its way 

 upwards, and appears at the coronet, and usually at the quarter, and there slowly 

 oozes out, while the aperture and the quantity discharged are so sm;ill that the 

 inexperienced person would have no suspicion of the extent of the mischief 

 within, and the difficulty of repairing it. The opening may scarcely admit a 

 probe into it, yet over the greater part of the quarter and the sole the horn 

 may have separated from the foot, and the matter may have penetrated under 

 the cartilages and ligaments, and into the coffin joint. Not only so, but two mis- 

 chievous results may have been produced, the pressure of the matter wherever 

 it has gone has formed ulcerations that are indisposed to heal, and that require 

 the application of strong and painful stimulants to induce them to heal ; and, 

 worse than this, the horn, once separated from the sensible parts beneath, will 

 never again unite with them, Quittor may occur in both the fore and the hind 

 feet. 



It will be sufficiently plain that the aid of a skilful practitioner is here requi- 

 site, and also the full exercise of patience in the proprietor of the horse. It 

 may be necessary to remove much of the horny sole, which will be speedily 

 reproduced when the fleshy surface beneath can be brought to a healthy con- 

 dition ; but if much of the horn at the quarters must be taken away, five or six 

 months may probably elapse before it will be sufficiently grown down again to 

 render the horse useful. 



Measures of considerable severity are indispensable. The application of 

 some caustic will alone produce a healthy action on the ulcerated surfaces ; but 

 on the ground of interest and of humanity we protest against that brutal prac- 

 tice, or at least the extent to which it is carried, that is pursued by many 

 ignorant smiths, of coring out, or deeply destroying the healthy as well as the 

 diseased parts and parts which no process will again restore. The unhealthy 

 surface must be removed ; but the cartilages and ligaments, and even portions of 

 the bone, need not to be sacrificed. 



The experienced veterinary surgeon will alone be able to counsel the proprietor 



