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 feetid 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 erumbling 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 
