QUITTOR. 189 



QUITTOR. 



This, like the former disease, is usually a secondary 

 disease, resulting from inflammation caused by some 

 violence or primary affection. It consists in an in- 

 ternal abscess of the foot, forming in sinuses. 



The parts surrounding the os corona? are generally 

 enlarged and puffy, and hot and tender to the touch, 

 followed, unless relieved, by a bursting of one of the 

 abscesses at the superior border of the hoof, from which 

 an offensive and rather thin discharge exudes. 



The treatment should consist in liberal but not heat- 

 ing food. A free incision must be made into the 

 abscess, for the destruction of parts by ulceration will 

 be thus prevented ; after which probes must be made use 

 of to ascertain the extent of the injury. If synovia be 

 apparent it will be an unfavourable sign ; but in two 

 cases under my treatment, when synovia was present, 

 the horses became sound and resumed their work (farm 

 work) after six months' treatment, without in any way 

 'favouring' the foot that had been diseased. The 

 sinuses ascertained, either probes or bougies smeared 

 with corrosive sublimate should be inserted, and linseed 

 poultices applied every three hours ; and if this treat- 

 ment be not sufficient to bring about a sloughing of the 

 quittor, the actual cautery must be resorted to, in which 

 case the horse must be cast, or otherwise effectually 

 secured. 



