86 THE ARMY HORSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE. 



QUITTOR. 



A quittor is a ruimiiio: sore, situated on the coronet of the foot, 

 with one or more tubes (sinuses) leadinjj in a downward direction 

 and dischargLiiE: pus. 



Causes.— Pricks in shoeing; punctures of the coronet, sole or frog; 

 bruises or suppuiating corns. 



Syraptomx. — A swelhng on the coronet, presenting a pecuharly 

 unhealthy appearance, and in the center of which aie one or more 

 sinuses communicating witli the diseased structures inside of the 

 foot. In nearly all cases the horse is verA" lame. 



Treatment. — Find out, if possible, what has caused the quittor. 

 If it is the result of a nail prick or a festered com. open it up on 

 the underside of the foot, allow the pus to run out, and then treat 

 as described under "Puncture." If no nail prick or com can be 

 found, treat the quittor from above, by injecting into the sinuses 

 one of the following solutions: Carbolic acid, 1 to 20; croohji, I 

 to 25; bichloride of mercury, 1 to .500. This treatment should be 

 continued for several days, at the end of which period, if the ])arts 

 do not appear in a healthier condition, inject into the tubes 1 diam 

 of bicldoride of mercury well shaken up in 1 ounce of water. This 

 will cause a separation of the diseased walls of tiie tube from the 

 healthy parts of the foot. Poultices of flaxseed meal assist this 

 separation. Keep the parts clean and wash out with carbolic acid or 

 creolin as at first. If the sore iloes not heal un<ler this treatment 

 a surgical operation vnM be necessary'. 



QUARTER CRACKS AND TOE CRACKS. 



A toe or quarter crack (often called a sand crack) is a split in the 

 horn of the wall; the position of the crack determines the name 

 applied to it. Horses with tliin, weak quarters are pre<lisposed to 

 quarter crack. 



Causes. — Excessive dryness of the hoof; alternate changing from 

 damp to dry; heavy shoes; large nails, and nails set too far back 

 toward the heels. 



Symptoms. — The crack generally starts at the coronary band and 

 gradually extentls downward to the lower border of the wall. The 

 most common form of quarter crack is a deep fissure extending 

 through the wall an<l causing a pinching of the sensitive structures. 

 When, however, the crack is not deep there is seldom any lameness. 



Treatment. — The first step is to remove the shoe and soften the 

 hom by poultices or by standing in warm or cold water for a few 

 days, then cut away the hard overlapping edges of the fissure and 

 thin the wall on each side so that there will be no friction between 

 the edges of the crack. As the wall grows down from the coronet 



