1070 DISEASES OF THE FOOT. 



disease and troublesome complications, though the opposite conditions 

 do not necessarily guarantee the absence of serious changes. Quittor 

 produced by cracks in the horn generally takes a very protracted 

 course, being often due to necrosis of the os pedis. Generally, quittor 

 is less serious in hind than in front feet, probably because the lateral 

 cartilage in the hind foot is smaller, less dense, and more vascular 

 than in the fore, and, therefore, exfoliation of the necrosed fragment 

 is more readily effected. 



Treatment. It is of primary importance to prevent infection 

 of the parachondrium, and, therefore, especial attention must be 

 given to the careful treatment of corns, cracks in the horn, and other 

 diseases likely to produce parenchymatous inflammation of the 

 sensitive structures in the posterior portions of the foot. The freest 

 exit must be given to inflammatory products, and the centre of 

 disease kept as clean as possible. Injuries to the coronet are similarly 

 treated, especially when the lateral cartilage is injured. Brauer 

 cured an injury of the cartilage, consequent on a tread, by carefully 

 cleansing the wound with sublimate solution, and applying a 

 dressing of iodoform and starch in the proportion of 1 to 5. Even 

 extensive injuries of the lateral cartilage may heal by primary 

 intention. 



If swelling of the parachondrium points to suppuration, the hoof 

 must be kept soft, and a lukewarm foot-bath, containing a disinfectant, 

 used to assist resolution. When pus has already formed, it must 

 be afforded free exit. Although abscess-formation always entails 

 a quittor, infection may sometimes be prevented extending to the 

 cartilage by syringing out the abscess cavity with 10 per cent, chloride 

 of zinc or other disinfectant. When this fails other methods of 

 treatment can be resorted to, all of which, however, depend on 

 immediately removing any necrotic tissue, giving free exit to dis- 

 charges, and checking the growth of bacteria in the parachondrium. 

 These comprise : — Injection with disinfectants. Liquor Villata has 

 for many years enjoyed a wide reputation for this purpose. 

 Williams recommends 10 per cent, solution of corrosive sublimate, 

 to which a few drops of hydrochloric acid have been added to ensure 

 complete solution. Carbolic acid has also been employed. In 

 using these, the principal point is to bring them intimately into 

 contact with the diseased membrane. For this reason it is best to 

 first inject into the sinus, by means of a small syringe, some carbolic 

 solution to, as far as possible, remove pus, a process which can be 

 aided by gentle pressure. Then follows an injection with the active 

 agent, which may be 10 per cent, chloride of zinc, or corrosive sub- 



