AND HIS DISEASES. 55' 



Treatment. — The cause must be inquired into, and as far 

 as possible removed ; as remarl^ed by Mr Dun, " The great 

 principle in the treatment of quittor, and of similar wounds^ 

 such as poll-evil and fistulous vyithers, is to remove as soon 

 as possible the internsel cause of the irritation, and provide a 

 sufficient dependent opening for the matter." It may be 

 necessary to remove a considerable portion of the hoof, so as 

 to get to the bottom of ,the core ; but we must open it up 

 freely, thinning the hoof, both the wall a,nd sole, and soften- 

 ing it by poultices, and the sinuses ^imulated^by inj ections 

 of corrosi ve sublimate, ftvyenty to th irty grains to an ounce 

 of alco hol or whi sky,) tw.o or th ree times a day, care being 

 "taken tha t the whole of t he diseased surface is exposed to 

 the stimulant, and that the matter ha s a dependent orifice to 

 esca pe by. _ "Where it has been of long stan ding, or impr o; 

 perly treated, and the la teral cartilages, or the bone itself, is 

 involved, moreheroic treatment will be necessary. We must 

 eut freely away all dead or diseased parts ; sometimes the 

 lateral cartilages may require to be removed ; still, however, 

 when necessary, we must not hesitate to cut freely, and 

 by following it up with mild dressing we will in most 

 cases effect a cure.^ Such severe treatment as was for- 

 merly practised by French veterinarians, at__ Alfort. and 

 largely by our own rude farriers^ called " coring out the 

 quittor," should never be resorted to. Our modern practice 

 of bold and free openings by the knife, and removal of irri- 

 tation, followed by soothing treatment, is not only more 

 humane, but much more speedy and efiectual, with less risk 

 of injuring and destroying healthy and living tissues. A 

 bar or three-quarter bar-shoe, should be used for some time, 

 and the diseased quarter cut down to keep it from pressure ; 

 and in the course^f time the foot will become.u^^ful, if not 

 sound. 



