QUITTOR. 417 



the separated parts held together by a firm encasement of pitch, as de- 

 scribed when speaking of the treatment of sand-crack. • The coronet must 

 be examined at least once in every fortnight, in order to ascertain whether 

 the desired union has taken place ; and as a palliative during the treat- 

 ment of the case, or if the treatment should be unsuccessful, a bar-shoe may 

 be used, and care taken that there be no bearing at or immediately under 

 the separation of the horn. This will be best effected, when the crust is 

 thick and the quarters strong, by paring off a little of the bottom of the 

 crust at the part, so that it shall not touch the shoe ; but if the foot is 

 weak, an indentation or hollow should be made in the shoe. Strain or 

 concussion on the immediate part will thus be avoided, and, in sudden or 

 violent exertion, the crack will not be so likely to extend upward to the 

 coronet, when whole and sound horn lias begun to be formed there. 

 James Clark, whose works have not been valued as they deserve, expresses 

 in few words the real state of the case, and the course that should be 

 pursued : — ' We may so far palliate the complaint as to render the horse 

 something useful by using a shoe of such a constiaiction as will support 

 the limb without resting or pressing too much upon the weakened 

 quarter.' A proper stopping shoukl also cover the sole, on which some 

 coarse tow may be placed, and a piece of leather over that ; the whole 

 being confined by a broad web shoe. 



In some cases false quarter assumes a less serious character. The horn 

 grows down whole, but the ligament is unable to secrete that which is 

 perfectly healthy, and therefore a narrow slip of horn of a different and 

 lighter coloiu* is produced. This is sometimes the best result that can be 

 procui-ed when the surgeon has been able to obHterate 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 to press long on the part. 



QUITTOE, 



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 suppuration, matter is 

 thrown out from the wound. It precedes the actual heaHng of the part. 

 The matter which is secreted in wounds of the foot is usually pent up 

 there, and increasing in quantity, and urging its way in every dii^ection, 

 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 penetrates 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 

 stuh remains in the wound, or the small aperture which was made is im- 

 mediately 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 small that the inexperienced person would 

 have no susjiicion 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 



E K 



