DISEASES OF THE FOOT. 331 



of a lighter colour tlian the rest of the hoof, and less perfect, 

 often leaving a fissure or seam from the top to the bottom. 

 Sometimes the whole quarter is imperfect, and incapable of bear- 

 ing pressure ; therefore, in such cases, a bar shoe is necessar}'-, 

 by means of which, when the false quarter is kept properly- 

 pared down, it will be at some distance from the surface of the 

 shoe, and thus be always free from pressure. 



Quittor. 



This is a consequence of a contusion on the coronet of the worst 

 kind. The injuries that a horse does himself in the stable by step- 

 ping accidentally on the coronet, or a little above or below it, are 

 seldom so severe as to come under the denomination of quittor. 

 It is more frequently occasioned in frosty slippery weather, when, 

 in endeavouring to save themselves from falling sidewise, horses 

 step with dreadful violence on the foot that is sliding inwards, 

 and generally upon the coronet of the inside quarter. The injury 

 is so considerable, that the cartilage, the extensor tendon, or the 

 coffin bone, is always more or less injured. This is the cause 

 of the obstinacy of the disorder. In the first place, it is neces- 

 sary to find out with a probe the direction and extent of the 

 sinuses or pipes ; this being done, let some powdered sublimate 

 be spread on some whity-brown paper that has been smeared 

 with lard, and then let it be cut out in narrow slips ; let these 

 slips be folded up, and twisted into a point at the ends. One of 

 these slips is to be first introduced carefully, and forced, if pos- 

 sible, to the bottom of the sinus ; and if not, so far as it can be 

 forced with a strong probe. When this has been done, another 

 slip is to be forced in, in a similar manner, and so on, till the 

 sinus is quite full. A piece of tow is then to be placed on the 

 part, and bound down with tape or listing, so as to keep the 

 dressing in. This dressing, in the course of four days, will have 

 done its work ; the bandage is to be removed, and then a slough 

 or core will readily come out, and leave a large open sore, which 

 Avill enable the operator to see the bottom of the injury; and 

 then, if he dresses it daily to the bottom, with tents of lint dipped 

 at first in a solution of blue vitriol or buttyr of antimony, and 

 afterwards in Friar's balsam, the wound will heal gradually, and 

 the horse will be radically cured. [The objection to this severe 

 method of treatment is, that a considerable portion of the lateral 

 cartilage is destroyed, as well as the coronary substance, which 

 secretes the crust, and in consequence, a false quarter frequently 

 follows. In the greater number of cases, the treatment re- 

 commended by Mr. Newport, V. S., will eifect a cure. It con- 

 sists in injecting a saturated solution of sulphate of zinc every 

 twenty-four hours. I have found this treatment effectual in 



