DISEASES OE THE LATERAL CARTILAGES 337 



condition equally simple when compared with quittor. In 

 those cases where the pus is not discovered at the sole, one 

 adopts the expectant treatment of poulticing. This, if pus 

 is present, is followed by a painful swelling of the coronet. 

 At one point there forms a hot and tender enlargement, with 

 the hairs on it standing straight up from the skin, which 

 latter is seen below red and inflamed in appearance. 



Later, the abscess — for abscess it is — discharges its con- 

 tents, the opening is explored, and we find that in extent it 

 is not confined to the coronary region, but that it is deep 

 enough to constitute a true sub-horny quittor. 



This discharge of the abscess contents may take place at 

 a well-defined spot on the coronet, or it may ooze out at 

 the junction of the wall with the skin. In appearance the 

 discharged pus varies. When the softer structures only 

 are attacked it is thick, and yellow or white in colour; 

 when bone is involved it is ichorous ; and when attacking 

 the horn itself black or gray. It may or may not be 

 extremely foetid, and often it is mingled with blood. 



When evidence of a previous opening upon the coronet 

 is plain, then it is not considered wise to attempt a paring 

 of the sole. Instead, poulticing is at once resorted to, to 

 induce the discharge of the pus through its original 

 channel. Once this has occurred a fistulous wound re- 

 mains, which is open for treatment upon one or other of 

 the lines we shall afterwards indicate. 



Complications (a) Necrosis of the Lateral Cartilage. — 

 This is the so-called ' cartilaginous quittor ' of other writers. 

 In all probability it is the condition generally understood 

 when the word ' quittor ' is used by one practitioner to the 

 other. Its tendency to keep the disease existing in a chronic 

 form renders it of grave importance, and for that reason 

 we give it first mention among the complications. 



It may occur as a sequel either of cutaneous or of sub- 

 horny quittor, and may result either from actual wounding 

 and infection of the cartilage, or from an attack on it of 

 septic matter originating elsewhere. 



Unless there has been discovered a fistula, which on 



