342 DISEASES OF THE HORSE'S FOOT 



(c) Caries of the Bones. — Portions of the os pedis, more 

 especially of its wings, and therefore usually occurring in 

 conjunction with necrosed cartilage, become carious in 

 quittor. In many cases it is impossible to say with cer- 

 tainty when this has occurred. In a few instances, how- 

 ever, the exuding discharge gives evidence of what has 

 happened. It is thin, but extremely offensive, with the 

 characteristic odour of decayed bone or tooth, and with a 

 feel that is gritty with contained particles of broken-up 

 bone. If, with a discharge of this nature present, the 

 probe also conveys to the fingers the sensation that bone is 

 reached, then diagnosis may be sure. 



(d) Ossification of the Cartilage. — This may take place 

 in part or in whole. It, of course, constitutes Side-bone, a 

 fuller description of which will be found in a later portion 

 of this chapter. 



(e) Penetration of the Articulation. — This may occur 

 either as a result of the suppurative changes or as an acci- 

 dent in excision of the diseased cartilage. Unless it is 

 followed by a severe purulent arthritis, it is not so grave a 

 complication as at first sight it would appear. 



(/) Synovitis and Arthritis {Purulent). — Should this com- 

 plication arise, the case is a most serious one. Beyond here 

 mentioning the fact that it may occur, we shall not dwell 

 on it. Fuller consideration is given to it in Chapter XII. 



Treatment. — The various treatments adopted for the cure 

 of sub-horny quittor offer the veterinary surgeon a large 

 number to select from. We will describe them in the order 

 in which they are, perhaps, most commonly practised. 



Poultices and Hot Baths. — As in cutaneous quittor, and 

 as in coronitis, when the pus formation is only suspected, 

 and has not yet broken out at the coronet or elsewhere, 

 then the first indication in treatment is the use of warm 

 poultices or of hot baths. Their application is in most 

 cases productive of pointing at the coronet. 



Directly this appears it is a wise plan to thir± the wall 

 down with the rasp immediately below the swelling. Tp 

 some extent it relieves the pressure of the inflammatory 



