330 DISEASES OF THE HORSE’S FOOT 
latter conditions, and probably the last of these; and that 
the two first are held of small account, or hardly of sufficient 
gravity to allow of the word ‘quittor’ being applied to them. 
In fact, by defining quittor as a ‘fistula,’ or little pipe, we 
have ourselves already indirectly restricted the use of the 
word to the two latter conditions, for in those varieties 
known as Simple or Cutaneous and Tendinous, the wound 
is generally broad and open, or, at any rate, superficial, and 
can scarcely be strictly described as ‘ fistulous.’ In the two 
latter, however, a true fistula exists. These, however, have 
only one essential difference, and that consists simply in 
the position of the lesion and the structures it has attacked. 
In the main the symptoms will be the same, the disease in 
each case about equally serious, and in each the same 
essentials of treatment will have to be regarded. 
In our opinion, therefore, a lengthy classification serves 
no useful end, and we think matters will be simplified by 
considering quittor under two headings only—namely, 
‘Simple or Cutaneous’ and ‘ Sub-horny,’ and discussing 
the other varieties as simply complications of either of 
these two. 
1. StmpLe on CuTANEouS QUITTOR. 
Definition.—This condition is simply a sloughing of a 
portion of the skin of the coronet, together with a portion 
of the immediately underlying soft structures. 
Causes.—This form of quittor has its origin more often 
than not in contusions, punctures, or wounds of the region 
severe enough to cause death of a small portion of the 
tissues. In this case the low vitality of the parts does not 
allow of the dead portion being removed piecemeal by a 
process of phagacytosis, as is usually the case with similar 
injuries elsewhere. Instead, the tissues around, aided by a 
process of suppuration, cast the offending portion off as a 
slough. It is the wound remaining after the slough which 
we may really regard as a quittor. In this connection may 
be considered as causes blows from falling shafts, self- 
inflicted treads, or treads from other horses, overreach, etc. 
