WOUNDS 217 



(g) Ostitis and Caries of the Os Pedis. — Injuries to the 

 os pedis are met with in the anterior zone of the foot. 

 Evidence that the bone has been injured is not usually 

 forthcoming until after the lapse of some days. One is 

 led to suspect it by the fact that there is no indication of 

 the suppurative process extending further upwards, coupled 

 with the facts that great pain, high fever, and extreme 

 lameness persist, and that there is a continuous discharge 

 fiom the wound of a copious blood-stained and foetid pus. 

 Used now, the probe reveals the fact that the bone is bared, 

 and conveys to the hand that is holding it a sensation of 

 crumbling fragility. 



(h) Wounding of the Lateral Cartilage and Quittor. — 

 This occurs as the result of a deep stab in the posterior 

 zone. Ordinarily, wounds in this position are unattended 

 with serious consequences, and the prick has to be a deep 

 and a severe one before the cartilage is reached. What 

 then happens is that a spot of necrosis is formed round the 

 seat of puncture in the cartilage. This, unless met with 

 surgical interference, is sufficient to maintain the wound in 

 a septic condition ; it takes on a fistulous character, and a 

 quittor is formed. (See Chapter X.) 



(i) Septic Infection of the Limb. — This we have already 

 once or twice referred to. It simply means that the septic 

 matters from the wound have gained the lymphatics, and 

 finally the blood-vessels of the limb, and set up local 

 lesions elsewhere than in the foot. Although dismissed 

 here with these few words, the condition is a most serious 

 one. Usually, it has resulted from penetration of the pedal 

 articulation and septic infection of the joint. In the vast 

 majority of these cases slaughter is both humane and 

 economical. 



Prognosis. — The first consideration in giving a prognosis 

 in punctured foot should be the position of the wound. 

 When occurring in the middle zone, the surgeon's state- 

 ments should be most guarded, and the dangers attending 

 a wound in that particular position fully explained to the 

 owner. A wound in the anterior position is, as we have 



