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 

 from 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 sensa- 

 tion 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 



