387 



remove by the process of sloughing. If a counter opening can be 

 made, which will enable a more ready escape of the pus, it should 

 be done at once; for instance, if the probe shows that the discharge 

 originates from tlie bottom of the foot the sole must be pared through, 

 over the seat of trovible. AVhenever suppuration has commenced, the 

 process is to be stimulated by the use of warm baths and poultices. 

 The pus which accumulates in the deeper i^arts, especially along the 

 tendons, around the joints, and in the hoof, is to be removed by pres- 

 sure and injections, made with a small syringe and repeated two or 

 three times a day. As soon as the discharge assumes a healthy char- 

 acter and diminishes in quantity, stimulating solutions are to be 

 injected into the open wounds. AVhere the tendons, ligaments, and 

 other deeper i)arts are affected, a strong solution of carbolic acid — 1 to 

 4 — should be used at first. Or, strong solutions of tincture of iodine, 

 sulphate of iron, sulphate of copper, bichloride of mercury, etc., may 

 be used in j)lace of the carbolic; after which the remedies and dress- 

 ings, directed for use in simple quittor, are to be used. In those cases 

 where the fistulous tracts refuse to heal, it is often necessary to burn 

 them out with a saturated solution of caustic soda, equal parts of 

 muriatic acid, and water, or, better still, with a long, tliin iron, heated 

 white hot. 



But no matter what treatment is adopted, a large percentage of 

 the eases of tendinous quittor fail to make good recoveries. Where 

 the entire hoof sloughs away, the growth of a new, but soft and imper- 

 fect, hoof may be secured by carefully jDrotecting the soft and exposed 

 tissues with proper bandages. AVhen the joints are opened by deep 

 sloughing, recovery ma}' eventually take jilace, but the joint remains 

 immovable ever after. If caries of a small part of the coffin bone 

 takes place, it may be removed by an operation ; but if much of the 

 bone is affected, or if the navicular and coronet bones are involved 

 in the carious process, the onh' hojie for a cure is in the amputation 

 of the foot. Of course, this operation would only be advisable where 

 the animal was valuable for breeding purposes. In all other cases 

 where there is no hope for recovery the patient's suffering should 

 be relieved by death. In tendinous quittor much thickening of the 

 coronary region, and sometimes of the ankle and fetlock, remains 

 after supi)uration has ceased and the fistulous tracts have healed. 

 To stimulate the reabsorption of tliis new and unnecessary tissue the 

 parts should be fired with the hot iron; or, in its absence, repeated 

 blistering, with the biniodide of mercury ointment, may largely 

 accomplish the same result. 



SUBHORNY QUITTOR. 



This is the most common form of the disease. It is generally seen 

 in but one foot at a time, and more often in the fore feet than in the 

 hind ones. It nearly always attacks the inside quarter, but may 



