332 DISEASES OF THE HORSE'S FOOT 



of pus, yellow in colour and non-offensive, or blood-stained 

 and dark in appearance, and foetid to the smell. 



Almost invariably these symptoms are added to by a 

 more or less diffuse and oedematous swelling of the lower 

 portion of the limb, extending in some cases to as high 

 as the fetlock or the upper third of the cannon. 



With the casting off of the slough the phenomena of 

 inflammation to a great extent subside, the pain ceases, 

 and the case under ordinary conditions commences to 

 mend. 



Pathological Anatomy. — In its early stages the condition 

 of simple or cutaneous quittor is really a condition of acute 

 coronitis (see p. 229), and consists in an inflammation of 

 the subcutaneous tissue, and the more superficial portions 

 of the coronary cushion. The tissues implicated are de- 

 stroyed outright, become infiltrated with the inflammatory 

 exudate and escaped blood, and acts as a source of irritation 

 expdate and escaped blood, and act as a source of irritation 

 latter, as we have said before, cast the necrosed portion 

 away by a process of sloughing. 



Always, however, it is found that the portion to be 

 sloughed off, while easily separated from the tissues adjacent 

 to its sides, is closely connected on its lowermost or deeper 

 face with the structures below, and cannot be torn away 

 without haemorrhage and the causing of acute pain. 



Prognosis. — With wounds about the feet our forecast 

 should always be guarded. Even with this, the most simple 

 form of quittor, no decided opinion should be given until 

 the progress of the case warrants one in reasonable assuming 

 that complications are absent. Once this point is decided, 

 a favourable prognosis may be given. 



Complications. — With cutaneous quittor various com- 

 plications may arise, according to the extent of the invasion 

 of the septic matter. Necrosis of tendon, of ligament, or of 

 cartilage, caries of the bone, or a condition of synovitis and 

 arthritis may be met with. As these complications are 

 equally common to sub-horny quittor, we shall reserve their 

 description until dealing with that condition. 



